More cops for shopping rush

The Makati police announced yesterday security will be beefed up around the city’s central business district for the holiday shopping rush.

Superintendent Jovito Gutierrez, Makati police chief, said an additional 50 policemen from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be available in December to complement its 514 officers.

The new batch of officers from the NCRPO will bring the total number of reinforcements to 100, following the 50 who were detailed early this month.

Gutierrez said all the new recruits will be assigned to the central business district, where many malls and restaurants are located. Shoppers and restaurant patrons are expected to significantly increase in numbers next month.

Apart from the additional cops, Gutierrez said the city government will be providing them with 50 Toyota Revo vans and 12 motorcycles to be used in patrols.

By February, 50 more new recruits will be coming from the NCRPO.

Earlier, NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said some 916 new policemen will be deployed to the metropolis as part of Project Metro in preparation for the Christmas season, when the crime rate is expected to peak.

Velasco said that before sending the new cops to the streets, the NCRPO has made sure that they are prepared to take on lawless elements preying on the citizenry.

Apart from educating the new men on basic law enforcement, virtues of politeness and cleanliness have also been instilled on them so they can serve as models of the NCRPO "Pulis Magalang" and "Pulis Malinis" programs.

"Tough on criminals and a perfect gentlemen to the citizens, that’s how we want our new cops in Metro Manila," Velasco said. – Marvin Sy