PNP OKs plan to prevent bank robberies

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. ordered yesterday the implementation of an eight-point program to prevent bank robberies and other forms of illegal activities.

Razon issued the eight-point program after the consecutive bank robberies in Quezon City last week.

In an order, he said the police regional, provincial, and station commanders should intensify intelligence gathering and sharing among different PNP units and law enforcement agencies.

Razon said police commanders should mobilize the core group of the Joint Anti-Bank Robbery Action Committee (JABRAC) and the Bank Security Managers Association (BSMA) to enhance coordination among the agencies.

He also said police units should also develop crime mapping, particularly in Metro Manila, to guide the deployment of police officers.

Razon said police should set up more mobile checkpoints, particularly to check on motorcyclists, since many criminals use motorcycles to escape.

He also called for the strict implementation of the “no plate, no travel” policy, which was briefly reactivated last year. By late last year, there were vehicles seen entering Camp Crame without license plates.

Razon ordered station commanders and chiefs of police to join their men on the street “during banking hours, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.” He maintained that police visibility is an effective tool in preventing street crimes.

He also told police officials to hunt down known bank robbery suspects and publish the photos of suspected bank robbers.