Las Piñas seeks to be most peaceful city

Mayor Vergel Aguilar, after his apparently vocal pronouncements of how he is dissatisfied with law enforcement work in his city, has challenged newly installed city police chief Senior Superintendent Amando Clifton Empiso to make Las Piñas the most peaceful in Metro Manila.

Aguilar directed Empiso to draw up and implement comprehensive measures on peace and order with the ultimate goal of reforming the local police force into the best in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Aguilar said he expects Empiso to present the plan as soon as possible to facilitate its immediate implementation and coordination among agencies concerned.

Empiso replaced Senior Superintendent Josephus Angan after the Philippine National Police (PNP) implemented a reshuffle last week.

“It’s high time that our policemen raise their standards to provide a better environment for residents and business establishments,” Aguilar said.

According to him, Las Piñas has been cited as one of the most peaceful in the NCR, with crimes few and far between.

“We have to maintain this track record or even improve it in order to entice business opportunities and thereby provide livelihood for our people,” he said.

Aguilar noted that while the city is heading towards progress, a healthy and peaceful environment is still crucial for economic activities.

He reiterated his order to the previous city police chief for improved police visibility and round-the-clock monitoring to deter crime.

The directive includes monitoring and prevention of vice in any form, such as video karera games, illegal gambling, and those that particularly involve or victimize the youth.

Aguilar also placed emphasis on the protection of residents and homeowners against thieves and burglars, calling on the cooperation of everyone to be more security-conscious and to develop close coordination with barangay officials and the police.

He said he intends to continue his policy of providing local policemen more training opportunities and seminars to help improve their skills in handling various crimes.

“Improving the policemen’s skills will also ensure that human rights violations can be avoided in the policemen’s exercise of their duties and responsibilities,” Aguilar said.