Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., Northern Police District Office (NPDO) chief, said the new police inspectors, part of some 588 that were distributed in all parts of Metro Manila, were assigned as an augmentation force. Franco said the new recruits were to answer the problem of lack of supervisors in the local police forces. Franco said the new officers are coming in by "lateral entry," meaning, they are coming form the ranks Police Officer 1 (PO1) to Senior Police Officer 4 (SPO4). He said not to worry if they fall below expectations.
"We will recommend their reversion (to their previous ranks) if they don’t perform well," Franco told the STAR.
He said the new officers will specifically supervise beat patrols, traffic, police and crime investigation, and checkpoints. They were also to stand as additional support group working against the entry of the Abu Sayyaf and New People’s Army (NPA) into the northern part of Metro Manila. They will also guard LRT stations, bus terminals and schools which are the most prone to be hit by terrorist attacks.
Franco also urged the public to be more vigilant and to immediately report to authorities any strange personalities or suspicious characters in their area to preempt any act of criminality or terrorism.