MANILA, Philippines — Police are keeping a close watch on political rallies in Metro Manila as they expect incidents of snatching, pickpocketing and other petty crimes to occur as the campaign period for local elective posts started yesterday.
Col. Jenny Tecson, spokesperson for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said police officers will provide perimeter security at campaign activities to deter criminals from taking advantage of large crowds to rob people.
In a Laging Handa briefing, Tecson said packed crowds provide an opportunity for snatchers and pickpockets.
There were previous reports of people who lost their cell phones and other personal belongings at the campaign sorties of national candidates.
The NCRPO has deployed at least 4,000 police officers at the start of the local campaign period.
Tecson said the first day of the campaign period at the local level in Metro Manila was generally peaceful.
Apart from criminals, Tecson said they are also keeping a close watch on the attendees at campaign rallies and other political activities to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
Even if COVID-19 cases are going down, the police official said the public should still observe minimum public health standards to prevent another surge in infections.
“We don’t want another surge in COVID-19 cases,” she said.