NCRPO: No major crimes in Metro for Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - It was relatively peaceful and quiet in Metro Manila during the Holy Week, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales reported yesterday.

Rosales, though, ordered the 15,000-strong NCRPO under heightened alert to secure the thousands expected to return home from the provinces.

Rosales said there had been no major crimes reported in Metro Manila.

“There was a shooting incident in Tondo where three people were arrested and five cases of (stealing) a motorcycle with three of the incidents recorded in Quezon City,” Rosales said.

“The rest were petty crimes which we immediately solved because of the increased police visibility in the streets and crime prone areas,” he added.

Rosales said the intensive police visibility and patrols in the neighborhoods have apparently prevented robberies.

“We cannot say we have zero ‘Akyat-Bahay’ incidents during the Holy Week as thousands of Metro Manilans have yet to arrive in their respective homes,” he said.

Rosales placed the NCRPO on heightened alert since Palm Sunday as he ordered the deployment of at least 85 percent of policemen to beef up patrols at bus terminals, seaports, airports, Metro Rail Transit and Light Railway Transit (LRT) stations and state installations. 

Additional policemen were also deployed in churches for the Easter Sunday celebration.

“We will also be securing malls and commercial centers because the returning vacationers are expected to spend their time in these establishments,” Rosales said.

Rosales said thousands from the provinces, especially students, would also take the opportunity to visit Metro Manila this summer.