With the downgrading of COVID alert in Metro Manila to Level 2, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered all unit commanders in the National Capital Region to start shifting their focus on measures to protect the public against criminal elements.
The national government has placed Metro Manila under Alert Level 2 starting November 5 until November 21.
“Ngayong lalo pang niluwagan ang patakaran dahil sa patuloy na pagbaba ng COVID cases sa bansa, inatasan ko na ang lahat ng aming unit commanders na lalo pang paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad dahil tiyak ko na isa sa mga nabuhayan ng loob ay ang mga kriminal na gustong bumalik sa dating gawi ng kanilang mga iligal na gawain,” said PGen Eleazar.
“Mahirap pa rin ang buhay ngayon dahil sa epekto ng pandemya kaya mananatiling kabahagi ang inyong PNP sa pagprotekta sa mga pinag-hirapang pera ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
The focus on anti-crime measures, according to PGen Eleazar, is important especially that more people are expected to go out on the days leading to the holiday season.
Aside from the easing of protocols, the IATF also approved the recommendation of the sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics to base the alert level assignments on data nearest to the enforcement date.
Starting December 1, alert level assignments shall be determined at every 15th and 30th of the month
“I am also expecting all our unit commanders especially in Metro Manila to adopt the best practices that were implemented at the height of the pandemic restrictions in order to restrict the movement of criminal elements, especially the motorcycle-riding criminals, in urban areas,” said PGen Eleazar.
PGen Eleazar instructed the National Capital Region Police Office to ensure that all personnel are well-informed of the guidelines set under the Alert Level 2 to avoid any confusion in enforcement.
He called on the public to cooperate with efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by continuing to observe minimum public health standards.
“Inaasahan din namin sa PNP na sa gitna ng pagluwag ng patakaran ay magiging ibayo pa rin ang pag-iingat ng ating mga kababayan at mananatiling disiplinado sa pagsunod ng ilan pang natitirang patakaran upang matiyak ang kapakanan ng bawat isa,” the Chief PNP said. (PNP-PIO) -rir
