By Alec Go
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will strengthen police presence during the “ber” months with the deployment of more forces especially in “crime-prone areas.”
In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 31, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said he has ordered police personnel to maintain presence not only in the National Capital Region as they anticipate an increase in the number of crimes during the “ber” season.
“Police presence kasi mahirap po na sabihin natin na visibility. Mas maganda po na presence para nang sa ganoon ay nararamdaman po sila dapat. Nakikipag-ugnayan po sila dapat sa ating mamamayan,” he said.
“We will be deploying ang ating mga mobile forces, even to the point of deploying ang ating SAF (Special Action Force). Kailangan po ay all over po ang ating kapulisan, specifically doon po sa mga crime-prone areas,” he added.
Azurin said he has instructed district directors to coordinate with barangays and to inform them about their areas’ crime affectation to determine areas that would need force deployment.
“Malalaman din po natin, ano po ang intervention na gagawin natin at ano po ang tulong na kayang ibigay po ng bawat barangay para nang sa ganoon ay iyon bang tulung-tulong, iyong sama-sama po tayo na sugpuin po ang kriminalidad dito po sa ating komunidad,” he said.
During the same briefing, the police official said the reported abductions and killings shared on social media are being looked into. To date, the PNP has accounted for 10 cases from various social media platforms.
Of the 10 cases, four have been resolved and five are being investigated. A case has also been filed against the perpetrators of the Jovelyn Galleno case. Azurin said they are also investigating old cases.
“Kasi for as long as hindi pa ho nasu-solve ang mga krimen whether it just happened now or it happened before, ito po ay kailangan po ay pagtuunan ng ating kapulisan. Until hindi ho nasu-solve iyan ay problema rin po ng ating kapulisan,” he said. – gb
