Marquez eyes increased police presence at metro transport hubs

SEEING kilometric queues of commuters at the Metro Rail Transit North Edsa station made the new Philippine National Police chief want to field more policemen to secure transport hubs in Metro Manila.

“On my way to a meeting, I passed by the SM North Edsa station of MRT and then I told myself, ‘what a sight to behold,'” recalled Marquez as he spoke with reporters in an ambush interview on Monday.

This made Marquez realize that the increased presence of policemen in places of convergences and transport areas, particularly MRT stations, would “matter a lot” to the people and their confidence in the police.

“Kung may pulis doon, may mangyayaring crime o wala, the fact remains na ’pag nakakita ng pulis ‘yung mga nakapila doon, hindi sila mag-aalalang ma-snatch ang phone o bag nila,” he continued.

After addressing hundreds of policemen during his first traditional flag-raising ceremony as PNP chief, Marquez convened all district directors of the National Capital Region Police Office to discuss his reforms in the PNP.

The NCRPO, however, has no permanent chief yet with the retirement of its former regional director Police Director Carmelo Valmoria. For the meantime, NCRPO’s deputy chief for administration Chief Superintendent Allen Bantolo will temporarily lead the 18,000-strong force.

“I will tell the district directors that they should be aware that we (police officers) would matter [to the people],” said Marquez.

To address frequent traffic jams inconveniencing commuters, Marquez said they would coordinate with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino to “see together and do something about the issues.”

He said he would order the district directors to continue finding solutions to alleviate worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila.

“Chairman Tolentino has a sincere desire to get rid of traffic congestion. And together with the PNP, we can contribute to the objectives of the MMDA,” he said.

Tolentino attended the turnover of leadership to Marquez last Thursday at Camp Crame.