Metro Manila now safer due to police efforts—Roxas

MANILA, Philippines–Metro Manila is now a safer place to live in than in previous years. That is because of the dedication of policemen to “do their job to the ultimate,” Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Monday.

“Sa pangkalahatan mas safe ngayon ang National Capital Region kaysa sa mga nakaraang taon at ito ay resulta ng masigasig ninyong trabaho, ‘yung dedikasyon ninyo, ‘yung inyong propesyunalismo, at ‘yung inyong pagseserbisyo,” Roxas said in a speech before Metro Manila policemen on the 24th foundation day of the Philippine National Police.

(Overall, it is safer now in National Capitol Region compared to the previous years and this is a result of your diligence, dedication, your professionalism, and your service.)

Although there are still improvements that need to be done in some police stations in the region, Roxas said he is proud of the National Capital Region Police Office.

“They are doing their job to the ultimate. We honor them every day by likewise doing our work professionally, competently, responsibly, to serve and to otect. The order is very simple. The mandate is simple: to serve and to protect,” he added.

The NCRPO’s success, according to Roxas, could be attributed to the “Oplan Lambat-Sibat,” the crime prevention strategy Roxas and the PNP leadership initiated.

Under the leadership of NCRPO head Police Director Carmelo Valmoria, Roxas said that from the average number of 1,000 crime incidents per week, it has been reduced to less than 500 since the Lambat-Sibat’s implementation.

The recorded crime incidents include theft, robbery, car and motorcycle theft.

“The NCRPO Command the entire PNP were able to reduce it to 436 last week, 522 the week before that, 577 the week prior to that and 563 the week prior to that. It has been steady at the 500 level for four weeks,” Roxas said.

He also noted that out of 440 most wanted criminals in Metro Manila, 140 have been captured.

Since the Mamasapano debacle, Roxas said that in every achievement of the police force, the PNP has mixed feelings of happiness and sadness.

The lives of 44 policemen were claimed after a covert operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province to arrest a Malaysian terrorist. This, however, led to a 12-hour deadly encounter with Moro rebels.

“Life continues… We honor them by doing our job. We honor them by remembering, and we honor them by seeking justice,” he said.

“To men and women of the Philippine National Policce and in particular the NCRPO, I salute you, I honor you, and I am proud to be with you. Thank you very much. Thank you for the good job that you are doing to our people. Good morning to all.”

RELATED STORY

Ax more cop chiefs who fail, Roxas tells NCRPO head