Visitors to the Northern Police District (NPD) headquarters in Caloocan City may be surprised to be greeted at the entrance by the most unlikely hosts at this time of the year—big white birds.
“They hang around there, especially when it rains. They like playing in the puddles after the rain,” said PO1 Joel Baliong of the NPD investigation unit.
The birds flock near the entrance of the main headquarters of the Philippine National Police in the city.
The NPD has jurisdiction over the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.
The Inquirer heard policemen imitating bird sounds, as they looked down from the terrace of the second floor of the main building.
Baliong said the birds were someone else’s pets.
“They have been here for quite some time now, but they only come out to play during the rainy season,” Baliong said.
Numbering around 20, the fowls are usually found near the office of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team when it doesn’t rain since there was usually a lot of water in the area even in sunny weather.
Baliong said the animals were fed by the policemen with rice or leftovers.
SPO1 Ernesto Arroz of the investigation unit said that the birds have long been fixtures at the NPD.
He said policemen were used to seeing the birds, and did not mind their presence.
“They just walk around and don’t bother us, so there’s no problem. And with too much work to do, you don’t really notice them at all,” he said.
“Pretty soon, we’ll have another police battalion—composed of birds that is,” Baliong joked.