DepEd OKs school opening security preparations

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Education officials have approved the security preparations of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) for the opening of classes on June 15.

Chief Superintendent Jose Arni de los Santos, NCRPO’s deputy director for operations presented the police security preparations during a meeting with DepEd officials headed by Education Secretary Mona Valisno and other stakeholders who immediately gave the green light to the project.

“We are now implementing some aspects of our security preparations which is the conduct of a massive campaign against street crimes,” NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales told The STAR.

The NCRPO has been conducting anti-crime campaigns to rid schools and its vicinity of criminals since last week and Rosales admitted they were able to make minimal arrests.

But Rosales expected the number of arrests to increase as NCRPO and its five police districts are poised to conduct intensified campaign against petty crimes this week, barely 15 days before the opening of classes. Rosales said they are on the lookout for petty criminals like pickpockets, “salisi”, and “tutok-kalawit”, which records showed often victimize students.

De los Santos said public assistance centers (PACs) will be established in public and private schools in Metro Manila. The PACs would be manned by uniformed policemen who will entertain students and parents regarding problems that may arise during the opening of classes. The policemen would be augmented by elements of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs).

Rosales also ordered his five police districts to conduct massive servicing of search and arrest warrants to “bring behind bars” criminals and prevent them from victimizing students, especially in the University Belt in Manila. He said his men, particularly the Motorcycle Anti-Street Crime Operatives (MASCO) would be on the lookout for robbers riding-in-tandem in motorcycles.