Mar vows ‘safest’ Christmas for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Saturday assured the public they will enjoy the “safest Christmas” as the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be on an intensified anti-crime campaign.

“This will be our gift to the Filipino public: the safest Christmas season that we’ve all been working for,” Roxas said in a statement.

Roxas said the crime rate in Metro Manila dropped due to the PNP’s deliberate and sustained campaign against crime under Oplan Lambat-Sibat, using the Filipino words for net and spear. He confirmed that the operation plan will be implemented in all regions starting early next year.

According to the latest update from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), cases involving robbery, theft and car and motorcycle theft are at an all-time low of 534 compared to the weekly average of 900 to 1,000 cases before the campaign started.

Roxas said he has coordinated with Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, officer-in-charge of the PNP, to ensure that areas of convergence, especially malls, will be closely monitored.

“We saturated these areas with police personnel because criminals cluster around commercial areas,” he said.

Roxas has also ordered Espina to set up checkpoints for public utility vehicles such as vans and taxis along major routes in Metro Manila.