PNP gears up for Balik Eskwela 2018

The Philippine National Police is preparing for the orderly opening of classes next month.

“Oplan Balik Eskwela 2018 ensures the operational readiness of police units responding to peace and order concerns including threats from criminal elements that may take advantage of the situation,” PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde announced Monday at Camp Crame.

He said the PNP is setting into motion a nationwide security and public safety plan ahead of the opening of classes on June 4.

Albayalde estimated that 29 million students in different levels are expected to return to school on the opening of classes.

The PNP’s priority concerns are incidents of street crimes such as pickpocketing, snatching, swindling, robbery/ hold-up incidents, and street-level drug trafficking.

Albayalde said local police were instructed to coordinate closely with schools to implement safety and security measures in campuses.

The entire National Capital Region Police Office will field its personnel in strategic areas within the vicinity of schools for patrols.

Each school should have at least two policemen, Albayalde said.

Security measures will be implemented in seaports, airports, and land terminals in anticipation of the increase of volume of passengers from the provinces mostly returning from vacation, he added. /je