Police patrol cars to still be visible amid oil price hikes

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo assured the public that police patrol cars would continue security and visibility patrols amid calls for fuel conservation following the series of price increases of gasoline and other petroleum products.

Robredo though admitted that the government could not control the surging prices of gasoline that would affect the operations of police and other law enforcement agencies.

“So whether gasoline prices would go up or not we will ensure that they (police visibility patrols) would be maintained,” Robredo said at the sidelines of the Philippine League of Budget Officers (PHILBO) conference here last Thursday.

He said while other government agencies have to adopt some form of conservation to mitigate the reduction of fuel supply, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would look for ways to fund PNP operations.

“We will not sacrifice visibility and presence (of the police),“ Robredo said.

He advised the PNP to be more prudent in the use of its resources. 

Police officials said the budget for fuel is fixed and the supply volume is expected to decrease due to the rapid increase in fuel rates.

Zamboanga City police chief Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo said they have to device a scheme to continue its presence and visibility to cope with the possible decrease of fuel supply to run its mobile patrols.

“We might have a fixed target or points of patrol to ensure that the visibility would continue,” De Ocampo said.