PNP to strengthen security in PH tourist spots

(FILE) TOURIST COPS Members of a unit of the Baguio City police, garbed in traditional G-string and tapis (wraparound skirt), are trained to assist tourists as the summer capital prepares to resume leisure activities. —VINCENT CABREZA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered its personnel to intensify anti-criminality operations in the country’s tourist destinations, following the order  of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

PNP Director for Operations Major General Valeriano de Leon on Saturday said precincts and police stations nationwide have been instructed to ramp up police visibility and crime prevention efforts, particularly in tourist spots within their respective areas of responsibility.

“We understand the logic behind the order of our Commander-in-Chief, President Marcos, to ensure that all areas in the country, especially tourist spots, are safe because tourism plays a big part in the economic recovery plan of the new administration,” De Leon said in a statement.

He further noted that ramped up security measures should be paired with intelligence gathering and an analysis of crime patterns in the tourist areas.

“This should be paired with reliable intelligence data about which groups are operating in particular areas. If this is executed properly, we will be at least one step ahead of these criminal elements and [we’ll] be able to provide our countrymen with peace of mind in terms of law and order,” de Leon added.

With the hope of developing tourism in the country to be at par with the standards of other countries like Singapore, Marcos previously bared his administration’s plan to create enabling policies, conditions, and infrastructure for the development of the Philippine tourism industry.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco meanwhile welcomed the President’s pronouncement as she laid out the DOT’s blueprint to achieve the objective.

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