JV taps cellphones in crime campaign

San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito launched a new anti-crime project and called on his constituents to participate in the campaign to rid the streets of criminality and illegal drugs.

Ejercito said he is hoping his anti-crime project dubbed as Text Information to the Police for Speedy Tactical Emergency Response (Tipster) would play an important role in stamping out drug addiction and other crimes.

The project was launched by Ejercito last week during the observance of his 100th day in office.

According to Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia, San Juan police chief, Tipster is a program designed to "serve justice and protect society."

Through Tipster, the municipal government seeks to work with the community in curbing criminality using the cellular phones. The local government and the San Juan police would conduct massive information drive to promote Tipster in the barangay level.

Ejercito said Tipster specifically targets street-level distribution of illegal drugs, like shabu. He assured residents of quick police reaction to any reported drug peddling activity or acts of criminality within the municipality.

Meanwhile, the rash of kidnapping incidents in Valenzuela has gotten the city’s newly installed police chief Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Urena relieved from his post. Urena had assumed his post last September, replacing Superintendent Nemesio Neron.

Northern Police District Office (NPDO) director Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol designated Superintendent Macario Balba, Urena’s deputy, as officer-in-charge.

Urena’s relief took effect last Sunday, Oct. 14, NPDO personnel head Superintendent Rufino Druja said. "I personally signed the relief order," he said.

Druja added that the NPDO had already submitted at least five names as Urena’s replacement for Mayor Bobbit Carlos to choose from.

"They are all NPDO insiders. But we cannot yet divulge their names," he said.

Urena’s one-month stint as Valenzuela chief of police was marred by at least four kidnapping and kidnapping-related incidents.

The day Urena assumed his post, four Filipino-Chinese traders were abducted in the city. It was followed a few days later by another kidnapping of a male student at his own house.

Last Oct. 2, a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Connie Yap Wong, sister of Uratex Foam Corp. owner Robert Cheng, and her police bodyguard PO1 Dionisio Borca Jr., were found dead along Galas street in Barangay Bignay. The victims were snatched on Oct.1 in Barangay Manresa, Quezon City.

Three days later, another abduction reportedly occurred in Barangay Ugong, where seven heavily armed men seized three unidentified Chinese-looking men. – Non Alquitran and Pete Laude