Belmonte personally handed to PNP Chief Director General Oscar Calderon a symbolic car key in a ceremony held at city hall. Metro Manila police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla and QCPD chief Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula attended the ceremony.
Belmonte said the QCPD will be able to respond better and faster to situations.
"More support is coming," Belmonte assured. The city government has donated equipment to the QCPD in the past, including motorcycles, semi-automatic pistols, bulletproof vests, two-way radios and bomb detection gear.
Quezon City is the largest city in Metro Manila with a population of 2.4 million. Calderon challenged the QCPD to redouble its crime prevention efforts.
The QCPD was chosen as the most outstanding police district in Metro Manila last year for its performance.
Gatdula, who assumed the post from Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr, late last year, said the new police patrol cars will significantly boost their intensified campaign against crime.
The QCPD has recently adopted a new anti-crime strategy requiring office personnel to do patrols at least three hours a day.
It has also set up a center that will monitor election-related incidents. — Perseus Echeminada