Metro Manila cops to be more ‘active, aggressive’ in road clearing drive

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Friday it will be more active and aggressive in the clearing of roads being used by illegal vendors and for private interests.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Friday said police are committed to support the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address to reclaim these roads for motorists within Metro Manila.

Eleazar said the NCRPO will support the clearing teams to be deployed by the various local government units and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“The directive of President Duterte is clear. Clean the streets and let the public use public facilities. Anarchy must be contained. It’s about time the country starts cleaning itself up,” he said in a statement.

Eleazar said the role of the NCRPO in the clearing drive is to protect and defend members of clearing teams from possible harassment and to monitor and dissuade violators from coming back to the streets after the clearing operations.

“Historically, clearing efforts by the MMDA show that these violators come back to do their thing again. The police will be more active and aggressive in confronting these  violators,” he said.

Aside from streets being used by illegal vendors, Eleazar said among the roads to also be cleared are those illegally used as illegal terminals by jeepneys and buses. Also to be cleared off the streets are parked motorcycles, tricycles and carinderias (eateries).

Following Duterte’s order, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave mayors in Metro Manila 45 days to clear public roads in their respective areas of illegal vendors and other obstructions. /muf