Police, military beef up security in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines—Police and military securing the National Capital Region signed on Friday an agreement on the joint Implementation of Plan “Magkasangga.”

The signed Memorandum of Agreement will support the implementation of Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Centers and provide clear cut definition of the roles played by the NCR Command and NCR Police Office in securing Metro Manila from the community level up, said NCRCOM Deputy Commander Colonel Rene Santos.

The MoA, envisioned to allow greater interoperability between the NCRCOM and NCRPO, was also meant to “enhance peace and security in the region,” said NCRPO chief Director Nicanor Bartolome. He said that they took cue from the November 24 MoA signing on a similar undertaking between the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines which ensured peace and order during the 2010 elections.

Brigadier General Tristan Kison, Commander of the NCRCOM said that the agreement stemmed from the “successful partnership (of the police and military) during the 2010 elections” as well as their collaboration against private armies and criminality, and anti- and counter-terrorism operations. He said that the MoA aimed to “foster cooperation among involved parties and agencies” in resolving issues of criminality, terrorism, lawlessness, disasters and emergencies.

Under implementation plan, the NCRCOM will be the lead agency in Internal Security Operations (ISO) while the NCRPO will lead in anti-criminality and law enforcement.

“An environment conducive to the growth and development of the Filipino people” was how Kison described the result they wanted to achieve by ensuring that the military and police’s functions in providing security were well defined. They said that “Magkasangga” will enable the two agencies’ smooth coordination in protecting Metro Manila.