Eleazar: No Christmas, New Year breaks for Metro Manila cops

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no Christmas and New Year breaks for Metro Manila cops, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Guillermo Eleazar said on Friday.

“Dito po sa NCRPO, wala kaming bakasyon, walang Christmas break, walang New Year’s break,” Eleazar said in an interview on Radyo Inquirer’s “Banner Story.”

Eleazar said the NCRPO cannot afford to decrease the number of deployed personnel as the Yuletide season is when Filipinos spend their awaited vacation.

“We cannot afford na bawasan yung ating personnel na magbabantay kasi nitong kapaskuhan at bagong taon, ito yung time na mga kababayan natin ay hinihintay yung pagkakataon makapagpahinga, makapagbakasyon, pumunta sa mga probinsya,” he said.

“Ayaw natin na magagambala itong kanilang bakasyon na ito sa mga posibleng krimen na mangyayari,” the NCRPO chief added.

Eleazar said that with Metro Manila on heightened alert, the NCRPO will deploy police officers in crowded places like churches, bus terminals, shopping malls and other commercial establishments.

“Malaki ang epekto kung magkakaroon tayo ng break. Bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na makapag-off kapag tapos na itong season na ito,” Eleazar added. /muf