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The
National Police chief, Director General Avelino Razon
Jr., made the rounds of key areas in Cubao,
Quezon City, on Monday to personally assess the implementation of
visibility patrols and checkpoint operations.
“The
purpose of this inspection is to determine how the
instructions of higher headquarters are being
implemented on the ground,” he said.
Over the
weekend, Razon ordered police commanders to come out of
their offices and personally supervise checkpoint and
preventive patrol operations, especially in areas where
banks are located.
“It is
not enough that police personnel are sent from the
headquarters to the police stations, they must also be
properly deployed and supervised,” he said.
The
implementation of visibility patrol and creation of
checkpoints were an offshoot of the bloodiest bank
robbery in the country’s history last week, wherein 10
employees and a client of a bank in Laguna were shot
dead by robbers.
During
his visit, Razon was briefed by Senior Supt. Marcelino
Lipana, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 7
commander, on the deployment of personnel in the Cubao
commercial area, a major convergence point in Metro
Manila and host to a number of commercial banks,
remittance centers, pawn shops and other business
establishments.
A
checkpoint was set up by QCPD on
Aurora Boulevard
to check on vehicles violating the “no plate, no travel
policy.”
The
National Police spokesman, Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome,
said Razon ordered police unit commanders to establish
checkpoints even during daytime, especially during
banking hours.
Chiefs
of police were ordered to come out of their offices and
personally lead these operations.
“The
force is also implementing the security clustering
system in areas with bank branches and other commercial
establishments. Under the security clustering system, a
police team under a supervisor will be assigned to
provide security in these clustered areas,” Bartolome
said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Noli de Castro underscored the
crucial role of technology and forensic science in the
crime-control and -suppression mission of the police.
Speaking
during the 63rd anniversary of the National Police Crime
Laboratory, de Castro said criminals are becoming
sophisticated, making it harder for both law enforcers
and prosecutors to have them convicted.
“The
challenge to all of us, therefore, is to meet the
growing sophistication of crimes and criminals. And
without doubt, the battlefield is in the area of
technology,” de Castro said.
He
acknowledged the limitations of police forensic
investigation in terms of equipment and technology. But
he emphasized that police forensic examiners are highly
competent in their fields of expertise. |
