All Metro cops to go on daily foot patrol

MANILA, Philippines - All policemen in Metro Manila will soon go on daily street patrols during rush hours, an official said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said policemen would be required to go on foot patrols from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

“This program will help the NCRPO get additional manpower during rush hours daily and will improve police visibility,” he said. “As we have observed, clerical and finance offices usually start their activities at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. so the planned deployment will not affect office work.”

At present, Bartolome said about 90 percent of policemen in Metro Manila have been fielded as part of the program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to improve police visibility on the streets.

Bartolome said commanders of the local police units will monitor the policemen to ensure they will be patrolling until 5 p.m. and not just go home after 3 p.m.

Police authorities are expecting an increase in the crime rate during the Christmas season.

Despite the perception of rampant crimes on the streets, police recorded a 34 percent decrease in street crimes in Metro Manila for the first 10 months of the year compared to the same period last year.

Bartolome said there were only 9,644 crimes from January to October this year compared to 14,667 incidents during the same period in 2009. He noted that only for the month of September, with 1,185 crimes, was there an increase compared to last year.

Of the 38 police stations in Metro Manila, Bartolome said the stations in Ermita, Raxabago, Pasay, Tondo, Caloocan, Sampaloc, Novaliches, Anonas, Kamuning, Malabon, Navotas and Pasig recorded the most number of street crimes.