By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
MANILA — There will be no let-up in the anti-illegal drug operations during the Yuletide season, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.
“During the previous years, wala tayong sinasabi na break pagdating sa laban na illegal na droga. Last year nga, meron pang kahit kapaskuhan ng Dec. 24 at 25 may mga operations pa tayo (We did not say that there will be a break in anti-illegal drug operations. Last year, we still had operations even on Dec. 24 and 25),” PNP chief Oscar Albayalde told reporters on Monday.
“Wala tayong tigil dyan dahil iba naman ‘yung nag-ooperate sa anti-illegal drugs. ‘Yung gagawa sa operations sa anti-illegal drugs ay hindi naman yan maitatalaga doon sa mga ibang duties and responsibilities para sa kapaskuhan lalo na ‘yung Oplan Sita, police presence, ‘yung pagtalaga ng police assistance desks lalo na sa malalaking simbahan (There is no stopping that because there are separate units for the anti-illegal drugs. Those who were assigned in operations of anti-illegal drug operations will not be assigned to other duties and responsibilities for the holiday season, especially the Oplan Sita, police presence, the provision of police assistance desks especially in large churches),” he added.
Albayalde specifically instructed field unit commanders to deploy mobile patrol units with blinkers turned on to visibly establish police presence without creating undue alarm to the public.
Local police units were also reminded to be on the lookout for criminal elements engaged in common street crimes such as mugging, swindling, gang wars, robbery and theft, and burglary of unattended residences.
Likewise, local policemen were instructed to coordinate closely with barangay authorities to muster support from village watchmen, citizen volunteers and other force multipliers to serve as marshals.
Albayalde said selected members of the PNP Command Group and Directorial Staff designated as area supervisors will conduct random inspection to determine compliance of PNP units.
