MANILA, Philippines - As National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Nicanor Bartolome led NCRPO officials in inspecting areas frequented by Metro Manila residents on Valentine’s Day yesterday, policemen in at least two cities gave roses to women commuters.
“We expect a lot of people to be out about to celebrate Valentine’s Day, so we want to make sure that the places where celebrations are held are safe and secure,” Bartolome said.
He inspected security measures at the Metro Railway Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) systems, bus terminals, malls and key business establishments right after a short coordinating meeting with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Valentine’s Day bus bombing in Makati City last 2005 left four people dead and 60 others injured.
It took police and military investigators seven months to arrest three suspected members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement, a terrorist group behind the bombing.
Last Jan. 25, a bomb exploded in another bus also in Makati City, killing five persons and hurting 13 others. Police and military bomb experts are now in the thick of identifying the signature of the bomb to determine the perpetrators behind the blast.
Meanwhile, bus marshals and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit from the Manila Police District (MPD), led by Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut, distributed roses to women passengers in buses and at LRT stations.
Yabut said he hopes that by reaching out to the public, they would improve the MPD’s image.
“The symbolic giving of flowers is our way of erasing the bad stigma of Manila policemen due to recent controversies such as the torture incident at a police station, the Luneta hostage-taking and the rape that occurred right inside the MPD headquarters,” he said.
In Makati City, uniformed policemen led by city police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio boarded buses as they stopped at the corner of Gil Puyat and Ayala Avenues, giving commuters roses and anti-crime tips. Lawmen also greeted pedestrians along Ayala Avenue and gave out roses. – Non Alquitran, Sandy Araneta, Nestor Etolle, Mike Frialde