Metro cops intensify crime drive as holidays approach

Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said yesterday they have intensified operations in anticipation of the increase in the cases in criminality in view of the approaching Christmas season.

In a radio interview, Velasco said he has already ordered all district directors in the metropolis to heighten their campaign against various crimes, particularly in populated areas such as malls.

"When Christmas season nears, the trend is that there is an increasing number of pickpockets, holdups and cellphone snatchings," Velasco said, adding that the National Capital Regional Office (NCRPO) has already created the Police Express where consumers, victims and concerned individuals can immediately report incidents.

Velasco, Manila Mayor Jose Atienza and Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo formally inaugurated the two pilot booths of the Police Express, a flagship project of the NCRPO in close coordination with the Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agencies Organization (PADPAO), at the Tutuban Mall in Manila and the Ever Gotesco Grand Central Mall in Monumento, Caloocan City.

Newly-installed Northern Police District (NPD) Director Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco, Western Police District (WPD) Director Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong were present for the launching.

Velasco said aside from the two malls, the Police Express will initially set up in five big malls in Metro Manila. These include, he said, one in Glorietta Makati for the Southern Police District (SPD); one in SM Megamall in Mandaluyong for Eastern Police District (EPD) and Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City for the Central Police District (CPD).

"We have already inaugurated our police express in Tutuban for the WPD. For Megamall and Glorietta, maybe within this week, we can already launch it to assist people who will be going to the malls, which we expect to increase as Christmas nears," Velasco said.

The NCRPO chief also urged mall owners and their respective security agencies to cooperate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in reporting incidents of holdups, pickpockets, cellphone snatching and other crimes.

According to Velasco, under the Police Express, not only policemen will be deployed in the malls, but also investigators.