Another police hotline? QCPD tries new tack

MANILA, Philippines—Mere “suspicion” of criminal activity is enough reason to alert the new 24/7 call center being set up by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

But instead of being open to the general public, the hotline numbers will be given only to a trusted network of individuals and civic groups who will serve as the lawmen’s extra eyes and ears in the streets.

“What are usually reported to us are crimes that already happened. In this case, organized communities can report suspicious persons and vehicles so the police can check before a crime is committed,” QCPD Director Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao said on Friday.

The center, one of Pagdilao’s first major initiatives since taking over the QCPD command two weeks ago, will be manned by volunteers who are currently undergoing training on how to collect relevant information from callers and coordinate with police radio operators and patrollers.

The hotline numbers will be available only to selected groups representing different sectors—church workers, senior citizens, women and homeowners’ associations—to avoid prank calls, the official said.

Earlier, Quezon City Councilor Anjo Yllana of District 5, called on the new QCPD chief to work double-time on solving crimes and regain the trust of residents in view of alleged involvement of Quezon City policemen, particularly those from the La Loma station, in the Sept. 1 Edsa “hulidap” incident.

The councilor, who is also a show biz personality, said he had been receiving complaints from the barangay level that kidnap-for-ransom activities and other organized crimes were on the rise but remained unreported because the victims suspect that the perpetrators were policemen themselves.

Pagdilao acknowledged the need to win back the public’s trust but stressed that the overall performance and image of the 3,000-strong QCPD should not be equated with the headline-grabbing misdeeds of “a few scalawags.”