Metro cops to be graded on anti-crime drive

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will start grading the 38 police commanders in Metro Manila on their performance in the campaign against crime, an official said yesterday.

NCRPO chief Director Carmelo Valmoria directed the 38 station commanders to submit daily crime statistics from July 1 to 8.

The NCRPO will consolidate their reports and submit them for evaluation by their superiors in Camp Crame after July 8, Valmoria said.

“We will start grading this week the police commanders on their performance in the war against criminality as ordered by the higher headquarters in Camp Crame,” he said. “We expect our police commanders to report the true crime picture of their area of responsibility.”

Earlier, Valmoria warned police commanders they will be relieved if they fail to reduce crimes in their jurisdiction.

The NCRPO chief issued his warning on June 19, but the grading of the police commanders will only start tomorrow as the first days were spent fine-tuning the recording and reporting of crimes.

Alarmed over the rising number of crimes in Metro Manila, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas ordered intensified anti-war operations, especially against motorcycle-riding criminals.

Upon receiving Roxas’ orders, Valmoria doubled from 38 to 76 the number of checkpoints at all entry and exit points of the metropolis and intensified the campaign to recover stolen motorcycles and loose firearms.

During the first few days of checkpoint operations, Valmoria reported that the crime rate dropped in Metro Manila but failed to cite figures.

“We are still in the initial stage of our effort to curb criminality in the metropolis,” he said.