PNP enhances visibility as 100-day Christmas countdown starts
09/16/2011 | 09:12 AM
With the 100-day countdown to Christmas starting this weekend, the Philippine National Police has enhanced its visibility in public places and major installations.
In a radio interview Friday, PNP chief Deputy Director General Nicanor Bartolome said his personnel are ready to deter an expected rise in crimes at this time of the year.
"Lalo natin pinaiigting ang security arrangements at coverage natin. Naghahanda tayo ng tao (At this time of year during the ber months, we are beefing up our security arrangements and coverage. Our personnel are ready)," Bartolome said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
Bartolome said he even expects the crime rate in some areas to go down because of the deterrent effect of increased police visibility.
Still, he asked the public to be vigilant as well, and to avoid being victimized.
"At alam ng [mga] kababayan [natin] paano iwasan ang krimen. So inaasahan natin sa buong Pilipinas ganito ang magiging trend (We expect the public to know how to avoid falling victim to criminals. We expect this will be the situation nationwide)," he said.
Earlier this week, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said some 400 added police personnel are to secure shopping centers and facilities like transport terminals during the Christmas season.
The added police personnel will come from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. had reported.
Cruz said the police personnel are to help secure shopping malls, airports, seaports, and the Light and Metro Rail Transit systems.
Many consumers are expected to begin the yearly Christmas shopping season to intensify starting Friday, when they start a 100-day countdown to Christmas. — RSJ, GMA News
