By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Southern Police District (SPD) is ready to secure students who will troop to public and private schools on June 3.
Aside from its own police personnel, SPD director, Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, said they have also tapped the services of “force multipliers” such as “barangay tanods” (village watchmen) and volunteers to ensure a peaceful and orderly opening of classes.
The SPD covers the cities of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, as well as the municipality of Pateros.
Cruz ordered the district’s seven chiefs of police to maximize the mobilization of their police personnel for the establishment of Police Assistance Desks (PADs) within the immediate vicinity of schools, transportation hubs/terminals and other places of convergence where students are likely to hang up in their area of responsibility.
He said the deployment of around 2,558 policemen and 1,896 force multipliers aims to protect the safety of students, parents, teachers and school staff from criminal activity and/or lawlessness on the first day of classes.
Out of the 388 private and public schools within the Southern metro area, a total of 207 PADs will be established with 706 personnel to be deployed. While a total of 64 personnel will be deployed in transportation hubs/terminal. The security deployment will also be complemented with 61 EOD/K9 personnel, 72 Tactical Motorcycle Riders and 1,655 route security.
Cruz said that he wanted to make sure that the first day of school would be a fruitful day for our students so that they will continue to be motivated to go to schools and focus on their studies and make the first day of school a good day for every student.
The SPD Chief also appealed to students to stay within the campus grounds for them not to fall prey to criminals as well as for parents to keep a close watch over their children, especially those who are in elementary and kindergarten levels.
Cruz said in case of emergencies or any suspicious activities, the public may report to the nearest police desks or by using the PNP hotlines such as Isumbong mo kay Oca: 0917-847-5757, I-send mo sa Team NCRPO: Globe 0915-888-8181, Smart 099-990-18181 and SPD hotline: 0921-999-6161.
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