THE National Capital Region Police Office
will begin deploying today some 100 "Santa Cops" to patrol the
metropolis in a bid to deter criminals from pursuing their trade
during the Christmas season.
NCRPO Director Leopoldo Bataoil said the
"Santa Cop 2008" anti-crime program will increase police
visibility in the Metro Manila streets and around commercial
establishments. The program launch will be held at the SM Mall
of Asia in Pasay City today.
Bataoil said Santa Cops, now an annual NCRPO
crime prevention program, will lay down "anti-criminality
measures, target hardening, and perform public safety services
in places of convergence and commercial establishments."
He said the program has been effective in the
past year, causing a 31 percent drop in crimes from 2006 to
2007.
Santa Cops will be deployed around shopping
malls, department stores, and in crime hotspots like Quiapo and
Divisoria in Manila, Litex-Commonwealth in Quezon City, Baclaran
in Parañaque and Bagong Silang in Caloocan.
Bataoil said 52 of the Santa Cops will come
from NCRPO headquarters, 20 from the Police Regional Mobile
Group and 20 from the Regional Police Holding Area Unit. The
team from the regional headquarters will be augmented with a
minimum of 25 policemen from each of the five police districts
and police stations in Metro Manila.
The program will be in force until Jan. 2, 2009. –
Ashzel Hachero
