WPD gets 20 new vehicles

The Western Police District (WPD) has no more reason to be late in responding to distress calls or crime incidents.

This, after Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, turned over 20 brand new patrol jeeps to the WPD, headed by Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos.

With the patrol jeeps, Atienza said he expected the WPD to enhance the mobility of police patrols. He said the police response time to a distress call or a call for assistance in Manila should be as fast as three minutes and no slower than five minutes.

"With enough vehicles, I don’t see any reason why the police cannot work within three-to-five-minute response time," the mayor told Pasinos during the turn over ceremony yesterday at the Manila City Hall.

Officials of the Philippine National Police attributed the PNP’s failure to improve peace and order in the country to insufficient police equipment.

Ranking police officials said criminals with sophisticated gadgetry and vehicles escape before law enforcers get to the crime scene because the policemen have sub-standard equipment.

Of the 20 brand-new Suzuki Samurai 4x4 patrol jeeps, Atienza said 14 would be given to the WPD Mobile Division while the remaining six are for the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG).

The city government donation brings to 100 the total number of WPD patrol vehicles, excluding the 22 units of Suzuki Chariot Econocab patrol vans.

Aside from the vehicles, the city government has provided the WPD with 40 mountain bikes, 80 bulletproof vests and 100 rain gear.

For his part, Pasinos vowed to meet the expectation of the mayor. "With the full support of the mayor, there is no reason for us to fail to enforce the three-to-five minute rule on police response time. – Cecille Suerte Felipe