NCRPO to deploy 10,000 cops for New Year revelry

MANILA, Philippines - At least 10,000 policemen will be deployed in Metro Manila today to ensure a safe and orderly New Year revelry, a police official said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Alan Purisima said the NCRPO will remain on normal alert but “we will be everywhere to prevent illegal discharge of firearms and the sale of illegal firecrackers.”

“We will be in the streets to monitor the situation early in the morning until the New Year celebration is on,” said Purisima as he warned policemen they will be dismissed from service if they engage in indiscriminate firing and suspended if they use illegal firecrackers.

Purisima urged the NCRPO’s five district directors to conduct intensified patrol operations, especially in the vicinity of commercial centers to prevent robbers from hitting banks and pawnships, and in posh subdivisions.

He expressed hope that the presence of policemen in the streets would help lessen the number of casualties among Filipinos welcoming the New Year.

In Makati City, police went on “red alert” yesterday to enforce the “no firecracker” policy in Barangays Bangkal, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar, which were affected by the oil leaking from a pipeline owned by the First Philippine Industrial Corp. – Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde