Quezon City records 13th day of zero focus crimes

Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, QCPD director (Photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines – There were no focus crimes reported in Quezon City for the 13th consecutive day on Thursday, its top police official Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said.

The eight focus crimes the police are watching are homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, rape, carnapping, and murder.

But despite this achievement, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested a total of 1,406 persons for other violations from 5 a.m. on Wednesday until 5 a.m. on Thursday. These violations include drinking and smoking in public places and going around without shirts.

A total of 945 have been warned; 47 were fined; and 414 of the violators are facing charges, the QCPD reported.

Police also confiscated 65 sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), two large sachets of suspected marijuana, three glass tube pipe, marked money worth P4,700, cash worth P10,500, 15 cellphones, and other items in several operations.

“I have the most dedicated station commanders. These violations of CO (City Ordinances) are mostly petty crimes. QCPD has one of the most advance command center,” Esquivel told INQUIRER.net.

According to Esquivel, the city police strictly enforces city ordinances as a deterrent against bigger offenses.

“Pag nahit namin [ang target on] petty crimes bale ‘yung big crimes or index crimes ay bumababa [rin ang] incidents. So ang strategy ay maliit na crime pa lang ay hard-hitting na kami,” he said.

(When we hit the target on petty crimes, it also lowers the incidence of big crimes or index crimes. So the strategy is even on small crimes, we are already hard-hitting)

“Walang patawad para matuto mga tao ng magkaroon ng takot na lumabag ng batas at respeto sa batas (We are not forgiving for people to have fear. For them not to violate the law and for them to respect the law),” he added. /ee/muf