Makati asks PNP to send more cops to the city

MANILA, Philippines - Saying that the 560-strong Makati Police Department (MPD) is grossly inadequate to serve the city's daytime population of over four million, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay is asking the Philippine National Police to send more cops to the city.

In his letter to PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima,  Binay cited that for the past few months, his office has been receiving reports and complaints directly from residents, workers, and other stakeholders in Makati about rampant criminality, particularly robbery and bag snatching incidents taking place even in daylight.

Binay also mentioned the statement of Makati Police chief Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban that the city’s police could not prevent petty crimes in the country’s financial center.

"Coming from the police chief himself, this statement should be taken seriously," Binay said.

“It is apparent that the current size of our police force is grossly inadequate to provide security and protection for a highly urbanized city like Makati,” Binay said.

Binay said the city has a nighttime population of 529,039 which balloons to over four million during daytime because of the influx of transients that include workers, traders, students, tourists, and shoppers going to the Central Business District and nearby areas.

“With only 560 police personnel at present, the ratio of police to nighttime population is 1:945, while police to daytime population is 1:10,714,” he said.

Binay said although the city has been trying its best to beef up force multipliers at the barangay level, they recognize that police presence and visibility is still the most effective deterrent to criminal elements and activities.

“We hope to receive positive feedback from the PNP chief, as I know that we share the same goal which is to eliminate all forms of criminality not only in Makati but in the entire country as well,” the local chief executive said.

This year, the city government has allocated a budget of P107.3 million for the Makati Police Department. The amount covers monthly allowances and fringe benefits for senior police officers and rank-and-file personnel, as well as for the purchase of vehicles and equipment.

In addition to 15 new patrol cars it turned over last year to MPD, the city government as of June this year has also given two new vehicles for the use of its Special Reaction Unit, two all-terrain trucks for its disaster preparedness and rescue operations, and four new pick-up patrol vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Makati C3 (central command center) at City Hall continues to undergo modernization and expansion, with 200 new CCTV cameras set to be installed in addition to 150 CCTV cameras currently in place in major intersections and areas around the city.