PNP–UP agreement under review after bloody heist

MANILA, Philippines - The bloody heist involving a bank’s armored van at University of the Philippines (UP)- Diliman campus has prompted the Interior and Local government leadership to initiate review of the memorandum of agreement between the police and the university’s board of regents. Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday said he already ordered the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to review the agreement between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the UP police. In a press conference at the Napolcom office in Makati city, Puno said that a task force is being formed to meet with the UP’s board of regents to discuss a possible amendment to the MOA, which bars PNP personnel inside the campus. “With the initial investigation, we can see that the UP Police was not properly equipped to handle such incidents. Crimes of this caliber must be dealt with by proper authorities," Puno said. Puno, who is also the chairman of the Napolcom, said that criminals might use the MOA to their advantage, saying that the prohibition of PNP personnel inside the campus might present technicalities in their fight against criminal elements. “After the incident, we hope that we can have the help of the UP board to amend the MOA and come up with measures that would prevent such crimes from happening again," Puno said. Last Monday, six unidentified men shot dead a bank teller and two security guards in an armored van robbery incident outside the Philippine Veterans Bank –UP branch located just outside the UP Bahay ng Alumni. Authorities said the guards were on their way back to the van after dropping off money to the bank when the assailants attacked. - GMANews.TV