QCPD launches all-women mobile unit

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) activated yesterday an elite all-women mobile patrol unit, the first of its kind in the country, as part of the city’s fight against crime.

Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said the Women’s Mobile Patrol Unit (WMPU) was conceptualized to respond to cases involving the welfare of women and children.

Ruby Palma, chief of the Gender and Development Resource Coordinating Office, relayed Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s message congratulating the QCPD on the creation of the patrol unit.

Belmonte also congratulated the QCPD for besting other police and military units in the National Capital Region in the crowd dispersal management competition held over the weekend at the Rizal Park in Manila.

Palma said Quezon City has been in the forefront of promoting the active participation of women in law enforcement, particularly on crimes affecting women and children.

“It was in Quezon City that the women’s desk was first created. The concept was adopted by the Philippine National Police (for other parts of) the country,” she said.

Araneta Center official Ernie San Juan welcomed the new patrol unit, which will boost the security in the commercial center.

The three policewomen who are part of the new patrol crew were handpicked from QCPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics unit and underwent practical driving lessons and orientation on standard operating procedures on police patrols.

“Hopefully this pioneering project will efficiently cut the response time of the police on gender sensitive cases,” QCPD director Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said.

He said more policewomen will be fielded in mobile patrol units in the coming days. The launch was attended by women’s rights advocates, who aired their support for the patrol unit. – Perseus Echeminada