Keep police stations open 24/7, PNP chief orders

PNP Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome

Your neighborhood police precinct must be open round-the-clock.

Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome of the Philippine National Police (PNP) issued an order reminding all commanders of police stations and precincts that they must be open 24/7.

The directive was prompted by “persistent reports” received through the PNP’s text complaint hot lines that some police units were closed at night or in the wee hours.

In a statement, Bartolome said this situation had been observed in some police stations and precincts in Metro Manila and in Luzon provinces, although he did not identify them.

He instructed all regional and district directors to closely supervise the strict implementation of this directive by lower units.

“Lack of personnel is not an issue here, if only police commanders can exercise efficient command management and effective deployment of troops and resources,” Bartolome said.

Earlier, the PNP chief ordered stronger police presence in the communities through the Police Integrated Patrol System as a deterrent to street crime and other forms of criminality.

He ordered, in particular, more aggressive police operations against criminal elements riding tandem on motorcycles.