NCR cops to pound beat early morning on 1st day of class

On the first day of the new school year on Monday, police in Metro Manila will start pounding the beat as early as 4 a.m. Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Allan Purisima said Sunday this will be the first shift of police personnel to secure students at school. "[Sa Lunes] ng umaga, 4 a.m., ide-deploy natin ang first shift natin. Kung titingnan natin ang iskedyul ng estudyante (maaga papasok ng iskwelahan. Before that doon natin ide-deploy ang mga pulis," Purisima said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said they have already coordinated with civilian volunteer organizations and village watchmen to secure students and keep them safe from criminals. Purisima also said many Metro Manila policemen will serve a "dual purpose" starting Monday – make the rounds and man students and parents' assistance desks. Aside from this, he said the Metro Manila police is coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to keep drug traffickers away from schoolchildren. Hotlines Purisima said students or parents with problems can call the Metro Manila police for help through text hotlines 09158888181 and 09999018181. On the other hand, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it will keep an eye out for colorums or unregistered vessels taking advantage of the return of students to Metro Manila. PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente appealed to students to be early at piers before their scheduled departures so they can undergo security checks. "Our commandant, Vice Admiral Ramon Liwag, wants all stations to be vigilant and ready, and to conduct inspections to make sure vessels are not overloaded," he said on government-run dzRB radio. "We appeal to passengers to make sure they are riding legitimate vessels and not colorums that lack safety features," he added. — LBG, GMA News