Admitting that some witnesses are lazy in reporting crimes to police headquarters, the San Juan police has adopted the latest technology to curb criminality.
Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, the local police chief, will launch the project, "Pulis mo, I-text mo," at the San Juan Gymnasium in the presence of Mayor Jinggoy Estrada and Metro Manila police Chief Director Edgar Aglipay.
"Right now, about six out of every10 people have cellphones. The cellular companies have more clients than the land-line telephone companies. It has become the most convenient and accessible way of communication," said Cruz of his brainchild.
Since cellphones are handy and can be carried anywhere, people can easily call for help if they stumble upon a crime, whether as petty as a fistfight or serious as a car theft or robbery, he said.
"Concerned citizens could easily hide in one corner before text-ting or calling the police to report the crime," said Cruz.
The San Juan police procured two cellular phones for the public to contact in cases of emergency or for information purposes. The Globeline number 0917-3500922 and Smart line 0919-4536973 are assigned at the Tactical Operations Center (TOC).
The project also aims to improve the police communication system. The local police have two trunklines that are connected to other offices, and less than 10 direct lines. They receive a lot of duty-related personal calls that keep the phone lines busy.
But Cruz pointed out that there will always be prank callers, or in this case, prank texters who might send the police on a "wild goose chase."
The police chief warned that prank texters’ phone numbers would show up in the cellphones called. "Receiving prank texts or calls is something that we cannot control. But I think people still have a lot of respect for their policemen," said Cruz. "We will also try to verify the crime incident reported before responding. If it turns out to be a trick, we could call up the unit owner and reprimand him or her."