Metro has new top cop

MANILA, Philippines - National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Roberto Rosales relinquished his post yesterday to Director Leocadio Santiago, the erstwhile chief of the Special Action Force (SAF), the fighting unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Earlier in the day, Rosales assumed command of his new post as head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Office (DIPO) Northern Luzon.

In his farewell speech, Rosales said that not a single bank robbery occurred and the crime incidents dropped by 24 percent during his 16-month stay at the NCRPO.

“We have no bank robbery incident. What we recorded was a robbery incident after a client withdrew money from a bank and 12 cases of robbery involving suspects riding tandem in motorcycles,” he said.

Rosales attributed the low crime rate in Metro Manila to the establishment of the Regional Tactical Operations and Intelligence Center (RTOIC), where closed-circuit television cameras installed in the metropolis’ 16 cities and one municipality are hooked up.

The spy cameras were installed in commercial and shopping centers in Metro Manila, including busy roads.

He also said global positioning system devices were installed in 650 patrol cars in Metro Manila and police officers on patrol were issued BlackBerry cell phones, giving them access to the databases of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Bureau of Investigation and the Highway Patrol Group.

“We can now verify whether your driver’s license is current or fake, if you have an outstanding balance with the LTO or have standing arrest warrants,” Rosales said.

He thanked PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa for his support for the NCRPO’s projects.