Espina to 9,500 metro cops: Secure students

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy 9,500 police officers or about half of its total strength to secure schools and universities across Metro Manila.

At the flag raising of the Southern Police District in Taguig City on Monday morning, NCRPO chief Police Director Leonardo Espina ordered police officers to go after criminals who are expected to take advantage of the school opening on June 3, particularly pickpockets and snatchers who wait for their victims at footbridges.

"We have our hands full starting next week with the start of the classes on June 3 and the days after. I would like to rally everyone to close in on the vicinities of these schools. We have to secure all our pupils and students from criminals such as pickopockets and snatchers," he said.

"I want you to arrest all of them. Especially yung mga nasa footbridges. We have to coordinate with the security personnel and officials of schools and universities in the whole of Metro Manila," he added.

Espina ordered full police visibility on the streets on June 3. He said the NCRPO will also set-up police assistance desks at the various schools and universities in Metro Manila.

"Sabay-sabay nating i-secure ang mga schools. I want a zero crime incident during the opening of classes," he said.

Meanwhile, although traffic management has been transferred by law from the Philippine National Police to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the traffic management offices of the various local government units, Espina said police officers will be assisting in traffic management, especially on streets near schools and universities.

"Aalalay din tayo sa trapiko. Alam ko na under sa Republic Act 7954, ang traffic management ay nasa MMDA na on major highways and minor roads are under local traffic management groups under the local government code, but in this peculiar situation of the school opening until the second week, aalalay tayo," he said.

"The heavy volume of traffic especially on the approaches to schools will really cause bottlenecks, aalalay tayo in coordination with the MMDA and local traffic management groups," Espina added.

Espina also ordered police officers to go after businessmen who will sell overpriced school items.

"We should also protect consumers against people who might want to take advantage of the prices of school supplies in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry," he said.

"Let us coordinate with DTI personnel so that we will be able to check on the overpricing of school supplies. There are businessmen who will take advantage of the situation," Espina added.