NCR crime-free since Pope arrival –police

Crime rate in Metro Manila has been virtually zero since Pope Francis' arrival Thursday afternoon for his five-day state and apostolic visit to the Philippines, police said Friday.

In a press conference on the second day of the papal visit, acting national police chief Director General Leonardo Espina said there were no recorded crime incidents since Thursday afternoon.

“Nung paparating na ang Papa, ang instruction ko is i-monitor ang buong NCR (National Capital Region). Sa ngayon ay wala pa tayong natatanggap na report [of any crimes]," he said.

At the same briefing, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the papal visit has so far been peaceful.

“Saksi kayong lahat sa maayos at mapayapang pagbiyahe ng Mahal na Papa mula sa Villamor Air Base hanggang sa Apostolic Nunciature kahapon,” he said, referring to Pope Francis' first motorcade.

“Nagpapasalamat tayong lahat sa ating mga kababayan na nakiisa. Nakita naman po natin na kahit daan-daang libo ang dumalo sa motocade route, sa kabuoan ay naging maayos,” he added.

Espina said there are about 25,000 policemen deployed around Metro Manila to ensure peace and order during the papal visit.

Roxas said these police personnel are on-call 24 hours a day.

“Itong mga pulis natin ay hindi na umuuwi, they are billeted sa Cuneta Astrodome at the Rizal Memorial, to lessen the possibility na hindi sila makapag-report or na mahuli sila dahil sa biyahe,” he said.

Roxas said police personnel in Metro Manila will have a short rest on Saturday as Pope Francis is scheduled to go to Leyte to meet with the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda and other calamities.

As of posting time, Pope Francis was at the SM Mall of Asia Arena for an event called Encounter with Families. He is set to have another motorcade on the way to the Apostolic Nunciature in Taft Avenue, Manila, which serves as his official residence in the country. —KBK, GMA News