MANILA, Philippines - The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said yesterday it intends to arm civilians with whistles so they can deter criminals and make corrupt police officers stop their extortion activities.
Napolcom vice chairman Eduardo Escueta said the agency will launch “Pito Tayo Laban sa Krimen (whistle to fight crime)”as the central theme of this year’s Crime Prevention Week.
He said they will hold a simultaneous whistle-blowing on Sept. 1 at the Philippine National Police grandstand in Camp Crame to start the use of the whistle as an anti-crime tool.
“When you sense danger or see any corrupt policeman on the street, just blow your whistle hard,” he told reporters during a weekly news forum at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City.
He said the sound of a whistle is associated with police officers and once criminals hear it, they tend to flee from the area.
Escueta said not all people can carry guns and other weapons for self-defense, but a whistle can be carried even by schoolchildren and may be used anytime.
“When you see a policeman extorting money, you can blow your whistle to let him know you are aware of his activities,” he said. – Perseus Echeminada