PNP willing to deploy patrol cops to UP campus

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is willing to deploy police officers for beat patrol at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in the wake of the reported sexual assault of a student in the campus last week – if the university will allow it.

In an interview over Radyo 630 yesterday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the Quezon City Police
 District (QCPD) could deploy police officers for mobile patrol to protect the students, faculty members and visitors.

“The PNP is more than willing to help, collaborate and cooperate with the UP management to ensure that one of the country’s top universities is provided ample security,” Fajardo said in Filipino and English.

The UP exercises autonomy wherein state security forces must seek permission before they can enter its campuses. Its police force is also independent of the PNP.

If the UP would grant them access, Fajardo said the QCPD could assign police officers who can conduct routine patrol operations inside the campus.

“We can put in place mobile patrols, particularly during what we call peak hours,” she added.

The issue on the security at UP Diliman came after a female fifth year student was reportedly sexually assaulted at knifepoint by an unidentified man in the campus on the evening of July 1.