240 cops sent to high-crime barangays

MANILA, Philippines — Starting tomorrow, the public should expect more police officers in barangays in Metro Manila where crimes are high, an official said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, said up to 240 police officers in barangays that are notorious for crimes.

“Ito naman ‘yung ilalagay natin sa mga areas na matataas ang eight focus crimes, mataas ang incidents ng (We are deploying them in areas where the eight focus crimes are high, with high incidents of) drug affectation,” he told reporters in an interview.

The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, vehicle theft, motorcycle theft and rape.

Okubo said he is leaving it up to the district directors on where to assign the police officers in coordination with local officials.

Okubo said officials are using a “density map” to determine where to concentrate the deployment of police officers.

He earlier said he is inclined to deploy more police officers in barangays under the jurisdiction of the Northern Police District, which covers the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.

Apart from anti-crime operations, Okubo said the police officers will also assist local officials in economic functions and social services.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos lauded the Philippine National Police yesterday for the 16 percent decrease in focus crimes nationwide in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

He attributed the drop to intensified police visibility operatons and the PNP’s campaign against loose firearms. – Romina Cabrera