By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday launched the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) intensified police visibility in Metro Manila as part of a recalibrated campaign against criminality.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin oversaw the launch of the police visibility program at the NCRPO Grandstand in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.
The NCRPO, in a statement, said it deployed 21,532 personnel to boost police visibility in Metro Manila in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to ensure that police presence is constant, credible, and felt in all communities.
It added that 12,539 officers were assigned to beat patrols, 2,989 to administrative patrol duties, 2,944 to mobile patrols, 1,794 to fixed visibility posts and outposts, 629 to checkpoints, 344 to border control points, and 293 to Metro Manila Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit stations.
The NCRPO said 240 force multipliers, composed of trained community volunteers and partner stakeholders, will support frontline operations by serving as eyes and ears on the ground.
“NCRPO responds decisively to the call of the President and the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) for a more proactive, intensified, and strategic police visibility,” Aberin said.
“We will deliver to the public a police force that can be seen, heard and felt, not only to deter crime but more importantly, to instill the feeling of safety and security in Metro Manila.”
Remulla reaffirmed the government’s direction to establish familiarity and security between law enforcers and the public.
He echoed President Marcos’s message from his podcast: “People should see police officers walking around regularly. Over time, they get to know them, and that familiarity brings a sense of safety.”
Remulla said the police visibility should be a unified approach with local government units with good governance and good politics.
“If the local chief executives cooperate with the police and vice versa and I mean cooperate, not utilize kasi ang nangyayari diyan marami ginagawang private army ang pulis, akala nila bata-bata nila. Bawal na yun. Kailangan they work together (because what’s happening there is that many police are turning into private armies, they think patronage system. That’s not allowed. They need to work together,” Remulla said.
Remulla said he will meet newly elected officials in the coming weeks to create a cohesive plan of action and response scenario for everyone.
Earlier, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil directed police to focus on conducting patrols now that their duties for the 2025 national and local elections are over. (PNA)
