MPD: CCTV cameras to be installed  in some schools

Barely two weeks before the opening of classes next month, the Manila Police District has set up security plans and conducted anti-crime operations as part of its “Balik Paaralan” program.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said close-circuit television cameras shall be installed in selected schools in the Sampaloc area upon the initiative of 4th district Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David.

“We are planning to initially install CCTV cameras in selected schools in Sampaloc. I hope other local government officials follow the initiative of Rep. Bonoan so that more CCTVs can be installed in other Manila schools,” Rosales said. At the same time, Rosales has ordered his 11 police station commanders to beef up patrol and security preparations in all schools in their areas of responsibility to give parents and students a hassle-free enrolment on the first days of classes. He also instructed his officials to conduct meetings with school principals, security heads, barangay officials and anti-crime volunteer groups to assess the peace and order situation in their areas.

Rosales said he will also initiate dialogues with fraternity heads of different colleges and universities in Manila to be able to find ways and means to foster camaraderie among fraternity and sorority members. The elimination of violent fraternity wars is one of the six-point programs of Rosales when he assumed the top post at the MPD last Sept. 24.

In compliance with the directive, Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula recently conducted a security conference with different school principals, supervisors, security chiefs and barangay officials at the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) and presented a comprehensive action plan to deal with the peace and order problems encountered during opening of classes. Drug awareness among students was also tackled by the station’s anti-drug unit led by Inspector John Guiagui.

Sapitula said he will set up police assistance centers on strategic locations around school campuses for quick action on crime incidents. “All incidents involving students should be resolved right inside school campuses to ease the burden of reporting to police stations,” he said.

Sapitula also led his men in rounding up some 76 persons with suspicious characters along P. Casal, Castillejos, Fraternal and Arlegui in Quiapo, considered as among the crime-prone areas in the city. The operation resulted in the arrest of five persons with criminal records, according to Sapitula.

Moriones police station chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino also conducted saturation drive along Isla Puting Bato in Tondo which resulted in the rounding up of some 20 persons.