PNP to deploy 900 rookie cops around Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday announced that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy early September some 900 new police recruits in Metro Manila’s crime-prone areas.

“Kailangan nating lalong paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad dito sa Metro Manila kung saan maraming naiu-ulat na kaganapan na tulad ng robbery, hold-up, pickpocketing, snatching, at iba pang petty crimes,” Roxas said.

During Wednesday's meeting at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, the police top brass said there is also at least 100 cops from Metro Manila's Regional Public Safety Battalion that will be tapped to assist the local police forces setting up regular checkpoints and chokepoints.

Roxas also directed the PNP officials to tap a select group of personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Intelligence Group to go after members of notorious crime groups operating in National Capital Region.

“We lack enough manpower from the local police forces in Metro Manila and we need to augment them in their crime investigation and detection work,"he said.

He said there should be a complete mapping of crime prone areas and appropriate profiling of members of crime groups involved in those criminal activities.

“We are going to hold responsible or accountable any police district official and their local chiefs of police if a crime wave will persist in their respective areas of jurisdiction,” Roxas said.

In August 2012, the National Capital Region Police Office identified 21 crime-prone areas in Metro Manila that registered the highest number of crimes like theft, robbery and physical injuries in the first six months.

The NCR’s 21 crime-prone areas include those under the jurisdiction of Police Community Precinct 10 in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; PCP 4 in Barangay Tugatog, Malabon City; PCP 4 in North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas City; PCP 3 in Marulas, Valenzuela City; PCP 2 in Sto. Niño, Marikina City; PCP 4 in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; PCP 2 in Plainview, Mandaluyong City; PCP 1 in Greenhills, San Juan City; PCP 6 in Barangay Sto. Niño, Pasay City; PCP 6 in Ayala, Makati City; PCP 1 in Baclaran, Parañaque City, PCP 3 in Barangay Pamplona, Las Piñas City; PCP 2 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and PCP 4 in Signal Village, Taguig City.