‘Buddy-buddy’ system leads to zero crime in Kalentong

MANILA, Philippines - The Mandaluyong City police said yesterday not a single crime was recorded in Gen. Kalentong from July 22 to Aug. 27 this year due to increased police visibility.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen said all nine barangays in Gen. Kalentong were generally peaceful during the period.

Gen. Kalentong is one of five priority areas in Metro Manila where incidents of street crimes are rampant, Quibuyen said.

“We deployed two policemen in a ‘buddy-buddy’ system to guard a mall, eight banks, and pawnshops as well as money changer shops from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said.

“The presence of uniformed policemen assured the management of these establishments, their workers and the residents that they were secured against criminals,” he added.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. lauded Quibuyen for a job well done.

Garbo said the initiative of the Mandaluyong police could be replicated in other areas in the metropolis where crime incidents are higher.

Aside from Gen. Kalentong in Mandaluyong City, other “priority areas” are: Monumento, Caloocan City; Baclaran in Pasay City; the University Belt area in Manila; and EDSA, Aurora Boulevard and E. Rodriguez Avenue, in Quezon City.

Garbo said street crimes in these areas should be reduced by 50 percent before December.

According to Quibuyen, 23 street crimes were recorded in Gen. Kalentong last year and a total of seven crime incidents from January to June this year.

He said the NCRPO deployed nine personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion to help the local police in maintaining peace and order in nine barangays.

Quibuyen also cited the support of Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. in reducing street crimes in Gen. Kalentong.

For his part, Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said he wanted to implement the “buddy-buddy” system in the cities of Pasig, Marikina and San Juan.

“I have directed the police chiefs of the remaining cities in eastern Metro Manila to name their target areas and implement the specific deployment of the Mandaluyong City police to determine whether it would produce the same results,” said Laurel.