Amid price hikes, Metro Manila police deploy added patrols vs theft

Police have deployed additional patrols in Metro Manila to thwart thefts and robberies amid rising prices of basic commodities. Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome hinted Saturday that the enhanced police visibility drive will have cops doing desk duty patrol the streets at certain hours. “We are on guard against theft and robbery. We already made plans to boost visibility in April and May because the number of theft and robbery incidents rose around this time last year. But this year, there is the ‘rising-prices factor’ so we expect more crimes against property all the more," Bartolome said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said he plans to “enhance" police visibility especially during rush hour, and shortly before and after office hours. Bartolome said an earlier plan to boost police visibility by using desk-bound police officers was successful last Christmas. At the time, Bartolome sent even the skeletal forces of the Metro Manila police to the streets for patrol duty near malls and commercial districts at certain hours of the day. The added foot patrol personnel were ordered to roam the streets from 8 to 10 a.m., and 3 to 5 p.m., when shopping is at its peak. For April and May, Bartolome said he plans to replicate the formula. “Naging successful ang pag-deploy natin ng pulis na nakatalaga sa administrative work. Ang sa opisina, sa finance, administrative at Police Community Relations at kahalintulad na opisina, ang trabaho pinapatrolya rin natin," he said. (We had been successful in deploying police in administrative work to the streets. Police in finance, administrative and Police Community Relations will go on patrol. We will deploy them immediately before and after office hours.) — LBG, GMA News