Tourist police units created in major Philippine tourist destinations

A group of Chinese tourists pose for pictures in front of the monument of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal at a Manila park on January 10, 2011. The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced Thursday, January 5, 2012, the creation of more tourist police units in major tourist areas in the country. AFP/JAY DIRECTO

MANILA, Philippines—Additional Tourist Police Units (TPUs) have been established nationwide to ensure the safety of both foreign and domestic tourists, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said Thursday.

Robredo said that 24 more TPUs were added to the 14 existing units established in 2010 following a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Tourism (DoT) and Philippine National Police.

The new TUPs, according to Robredo are in the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO); Cagayan PPO; Cavite PPO; Laguna PPO; Puerto Princesa City Police Office (CPO); Palawan PPO; Oriental Mindoro PPO; Camarines Sur PPO; Aklan PPO; Cebu CPO; Cebu PPO; Negros Oriental PPO; Tacloban CPO; Camiguin PPO; Cagayan de Oro CPO; Davao CPO; General Santos CPO; Surigao del Norte PPO; Baguio CPO; Manila Police District; Quezon City Police District; Eastern Police District; Northern Police District; and Southern Police District.

He said that each TPU will be headed by a Police Chief Inspector-ranked official who will be tasked to “enforce laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives, properties and environment in his area of responsibility; exercise the general power to arrest, detain, search and seize in accordance with existing laws; conduct regular patrol to ensure the safety and protection of both tourists and residents within his jurisdiction; coordinate with concerned police stations in monitoring and investigating all cases involving tourists; and take immediate appropriate action to resolve conflicts.”