Santa cops deployed in malls

With only 23 days before Christmas Day, around 220 Santa cops or policemen wearing Santa Claus’ red hat will again be deployed in malls and other crowded areas to enhance visibility patrol and crime prevention during the holiday season.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil will formally lead the launching of the Santa Cop 2008 of the Philippine National Police this morning at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Aside from the SM Mall of Asia, Bataoil said Santa Cops will also be covering the areas of Divisoria and Quiapo, Baclaran in Parañaque, Litex-Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City, and Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City.

“These areas have been identified as crime prone areas where maximum deployment of policemen is deemed necessary to prevent crime and to protect the public from the atrocities of criminal elements,” according to Bataoil.

Aside from malls, the policemen will be assigned to safeguard bus terminals and various establishments.

“We expect to increase the number of policemen patrolling the streets for the whole Yuletide season,” Bataoil said, adding that Santa Cops is an annual crime prevention program of the NCRPO.

Bataoil said the initial deployment will be composed of 52 personnel from the Camp Bagong Diwa Regional Headquarters, 20 from the Regional Mobile Group and 20 from the Regional Police Holding Area Unit (RPHAU).

The NCRPO chief said these policemen from the regional headquarters will be augmented with a minimum of 25 policemen from each district headquarters and police stations in Metro Manila.

“The Santa Cops strategy is a tried and tested formula in preventing and controlling crimes in Metro Manila during the Yuletide season when crime incidents usually increase along with the increase of commercial activities,” Bataoil said.

He also cited that the Santa Cops project contributed a lot to the significant drop (31%) of crime incidents in 2007 compared to 2006 records. - With Jessa Ortega