By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – More than 24,000 individuals were apprehended in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the first two days of strict enforcement of local ordinances aimed at instilling discipline and boosting peace and order.
According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), of the 24,881 apprehended violators, 8,075 were for drinking in public, including 6,369 who were fined and 219 who were formally charged.
Meanwhile, 2,672 persons were nabbed for roaming the streets without shirts; 2,245 for violating curfew; and 584 for using videoke beyond 10 p.m.
The Southern Police District (SPD) recorded the highest number of apprehended violators with 12,211, the NCRPO said.
“Sa ngayon wala po tayong recorded na repeat offenders, pero ‘yung pagri-record natin kasi sa kanila is nagde-depende doon sa ating mga stations, chini-check pa natin kung may pagkakataon lalo ‘yung mga minors (Right now, we have no repeat offenders recorded, but our recording of them depends on our stations. We are still checking, especially for minors),” NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo said in a briefing.
The operations were carried out by the Manila, Quezon City, Northern, Southern and Eastern police districts.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday ordered stricter enforcement of ordinances banning street drinking, shirtless roaming, and late-night videoke sessions as part of its “Safer Cities” initiative.
Asilo said the directive from DILG means village officials are obliged to cooperate in the enforcement of the ordinances.
“Sa ngayon mas inoobliga natin ang barangay na sumama sa amin. Dati kasi more on police lang ang mag-iikot para sa mga local ordinances (Right now we are obliging the barangay to join us. Before, enforcing local ordinances is more a police work),” she said.
The Philippine National Police said the Safer Cities effort is in direct support of its Focused Agenda under Enhanced Managing Police Operations, and aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intensify visible policing and encourage a stronger sense of public security in daily life. (PNA)
