The Metro Manila police force has hooked up with telecommunications giants Globe Telecoms and Smart Communications in the fight against crime by enabling Metro Manila’s 10.95 million cellular phone users to text information on crimes in progress or crimes about to be perpetrated to the police.
The "Magic Eye Text Patrol" program is the new text service launched by Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco and Smart and Globe.
The Magic Eye Text Patrol encourages all cellular phone users to report the presence of criminals and terrorists in their neighborhood through text messaging — a method the PNP hopes will shorten police response to crime reports.
If the new anti-crime text brigade proves successful in Metro Manila, the program will be expanded to cover nearby regions and, eventually, the whole country.
Velasco said terrorists and other criminals have taken to using cellular phones in bombing, robbery and other criminal acts nationwide. Media reports on the recent spate of bomb attacks in Quezon City, Zamboanga City and Kidapawan, North Cotabato said cellular phones were used as triggering devices of power sources for the bombs planted by terrorists.
"This time, we will be using cellphones in tracking down criminals and terrorists," Velasco said.
Jerome Almirante, head of the marketing and value-added services department of Smart, said the program supports the PNP’s crime-fighting efforts by promoting vigilance and encouraging public involvement among citizens.
According to Almirante, the text patrol program was created "in response to the need for immediate dissemination of confirmed information from the PNP. The Magic Eye Text patrol service will be an essential tool for effective communication, especially in the light of the current peace and order situation."
Under the new Philippine National Police program, the public can report any crime in progress to the police by texting the location of the incident, general descriptions of the criminals or suspected terrorists and descriptions of the suspects’ vehicles, including vehicle make, type, model, color and license plate numbers.
To send their messages, cellular phone users are advised to type "CW" before their message or CW<message>, and send it to 2910. The text informant will get confirmation once the text message is received by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Smart and Globe subscribers can also make use of the TXT Alert service of "Iwas Krimen Tips" by typing "alert" or "tip," or "tips," respectively and send these messages to 2910. The user will get alert messages and crime prevention tips from the NCRPO. Subscribers will be charged P2.50 for each response message received from the TXT Alert service.
Velasco said at least 20 business, civic, non-government and local government organizations that have developed strong working relationships with the NCRPO have committed their support to the Magic Eye Text Patrol program.
Once they receive text messages, Velasco and the NCRPO tactical operations center will relay or broadcast the message to police operatives on the ground, as well as to 12 million cellular phone users – including the criminals and terrorists using them.
According to Velasco, "this will reduce their chance to escape. If they at all manage to successfully commit the crime, their locations will be identified by the cellphone subscribers present in the area and they can be tracked down along their escape route."