NCRPO to establish assistance centers

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will establish police assistance centers (PACs) in 1,275 public and private schools in Metro Manila to secure students against extortion and other crimes.

The decision to establish PACs was a reaction to many complaints by school principals that their students were being bullied to hand over liquor and cigarette money to criminal gangs – mostly out of school youths.

“We are advising students to file formal complaints at the PACs, which are situated near schools, for speedy response – not only against extortion cases but also other forms of criminality,” NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla said.

Varilla said it’s all systems go for the NCRPO’s security operations, with 2,667 uniformed policemen augmented by force multipliers like the personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), security guards and barangay tanods deployed to campuses in Metro Manila to ensure the smooth and orderly opening of classes on Monday.

He said the NCRPO will be put on heightened alert today.

Varilla said the NCRPO have been securing Manila’s Divisoria district and other flea markets in Metro Manila since last week to provide protection for parents shopping for their children’s school materials.

His five police districts are also conducting relentless anti-crime campaigns in their respective areas to haul criminals in jail. “We have arrested close to 100 pickpockets, snatchers and petty (robbers), but this does not mean that no more such crimes will happen during the opening of classes,” Varilla said.

Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said they also reactivated the NCRPO’s containment ring system, calling for the deployment of mobile cars and Motorcycle Anti-Street Crimes Operatives (MASCO) in strategic areas of Metro Manila.

With the fixed visibility points of the metropolis secured, Rosales said, parents will “at least have the feeling of security not only on their children but also those accompanying them to school.”

Taguig City and Pateros assistant school superintendent Dr. Teresita Adamos told Varilla that some of their students are bullied by criminal gangs for money.

Though she failed to cite figures, Adamos expressed a strong belief that these extortion rackets are also happening to students in Tondo, Manila and other parts of the metropolis.

To augment the operations of the PACs, Varilla said MASCO agents and uniformed policemen will patrol the vicinities of campuses.

While the NCRPO is busy securing schools, Varilla said beat policemen will also be deployed to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and on public vehicles like buses, FX taxis and passengers jeepneys.

Varilla said he has “touched base” with the officials of Chinese schools in Metro Manila to make a coordinated effort to prevent kidnappings of students: “The Chinese school officials are strictly not allowing their students to leave the campuses without their properly identified fetchers.”

So far, Varilla said they received no intelligence reports yet that kidnapping syndicates are targeting Chinese students during the opening of classes. – Non Alquitran