MPD to rid Manila streets of young thieves

With the Manila Police District (MPD) still haunted by last year’s tragic Quirino Grandstand hostage taking incident, the MPD  kicked off Saturday an intensified campaign to rid the city’s streets of juvenile thieves and beggars victimizing foreigners.

The 75-member tourist police at the Rizal Park have also begun daily formations at the Quirino grandstand as a show of “police visibility.”

Different units of the police district have also been tapped to man alternately for 24 hours tourist hubs in the city, particularly the Malate and Ermita areas, to curb crimes against tourists.

MPD spokesperson Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo explained that the move was a preventive measure being undertaken in close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD).

Margarejo pointed out that the campaign was launched following reports of foreigners being victimized by underage thieves posing as beggars.

“They (juvenile beggars) swarm tourists, asking for alms and then steal from them. Either pick their pockets or snatch their belongings.  This has happened several times and we want to put a stop to this,” he said.

The MPD Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) has been given the lead in implementing the campaign. It will primarily be responsible in coordinating arrest of minors with the DSWD.

Other units tapped for the intensified anticrime operations are the District Mobile Patrol Unit, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, the District Police Intelligence and Operations Unit, the Special Task Group, the District Anti-Illegal Drugs unit, and the General Assignment Section.

The units will augment personnel from the MPD Ermita Station 5 and the MPD Malate Station 9 in shifts.

Margarejo stressed that the goal of the intensified operations was to assure tourists that they are safe in Manila.

Last Friday, the MPD began conducting daily police visibility formations at the Quirino Grandstand.

MPD Director Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla told the Inquirer that it was “to give a signal to tourists that police are already on the ground” and are ensuring their safety.

He pointed out that while the MPD had acknowledged its operational mistakes in the past, these lapses have been corrected.

Rongavilla said tourist police have been deployed to man the northbound and southbound stretch of Roxas Boulevard and Intramuros.

“Our personnel are undergoing continuous training.  Before, this was neglected. We want to make sure that no untoward incident, like what happened last year, happens again,” he stressed.