PNP notes ‘safe, peaceful’ first day of school opening

THE Philippine National Police on Monday described the first day of the nationwide school opening as generally “safe, secure and peaceful” with no untoward incidents recorded.

“So far, the PNP did not receive reports of any incident involving students who have been victims of crimes,” spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias said in a press briefing at Camp Crame as an estimated 25 million students flocked to public and private schools on June 1.

For his part, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina reminded regional and district police directors to maintain vigilance and sustain the same level of intensified police visibility operations near schools to avoid untoward incidents.

“I am personally satisfied with the deployment of troops for police beat patrol and visibility operations in Manila’s University Belt area, and in school premises elsewhere around the country,” Espina said.

In Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office deployed 24,000 policemen near schools and transport hubs to ensure the safety of the public, particularly students.

Tobias said the PNP has been closely coordinating with government agencies concerned including the Department of Education and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

He said local DepEd officials and school authorities lauded the PNP for deploying officers to sweep school vicinities of possible street crimes. AC