Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada: Playing Santa Claus in April
MANILA, Philippines—Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada handed out a total of P27.8-million in “peace and order activity” allowances to the 2,800-strong Manila Police District on Monday morning as a prize and recognition for the good work in improving the security situation in the capital city.
It was Christmas in April moment as Estrada announced the release of P10,000 in allowances to each of the Manila cops and non-uniformed personnel covering the months of January to April. The monthly allowance was raised from P1,000 per month last year to P2,500.
Aside from the monetary reward, each MPD member also received 10 kilos of rice from Estrada.
In his speech delivered at the MPD headquarters in Ermita, the Manila mayor said that he wanted to give priority to policemen facing dangerous situations in the workplace every day.
“I continue to believe that without peace and order, no community, no city, no country will prosper and move forward. No nation can develop fully without peace and order,” Estrada added, in acknowledging the vital role of the police in city development.
He also called the police the “life blood and nerve center” of peace and order in the city.
“And for these people to perform their duties and responsibilities well, they must be reformed, they must be given the right amount of incentives. The police force must be calibrated to respond to very complex peace and order demands,” the city mayor explained.
But Estrada vowed to have corrupt, abusive and misbehaving officers removed from office and jailed.
“I give you a stern warning again today, perform your duties well, serve our citizens with honesty and integrity, and if you do not, be prepared to face the consequences,” he added.
Tourist police
At the same event, the Manila mayor also proposed the establishment of an MPD special task force, which would protect tourists in the city.
He explained that he would like to follow the Hong Kong police’s model of having a special task force designated to protect the interests of the tourists.
“I asked them to coordinate with our Manila Tourism Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Department of Tourism,” the mayor added.
Chief Supt. Rolando Asuncion, the MPD director, said the city’s police force was able to reduce the crime rate in the university belt area and crimes targeted at tourists in the city this year.
“We hope to continue doing this to provide a safer place for the citizens and tourists as well,” the police director added.
Allowances for city hall employees would be provided as soon as the local government unit recover from its debts, Estrada added.