Metro cops go on heightened alert, DPWH checks billboards for 'Pepeng'

Police in Metro Manila went on heightened alert Friday to maintain peace and order in anticipation of the damage to be caused by typhoon “Pepeng" (Parma). Radio dzBB’s Denevin Macaranas reported Metro Manila police head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales canceled leaves of all personnel for the weekend. He said they will be on alert against criminality, including profiteering, theft of relief goods, and petty crimes such as mugging and snatching. Also, Rosales ordered his district commanders to beef up their forces in the field instead of having them stay at headquarters. Philippine National Police deputy spokesman Senior Superintendent William Macavinta said they are going after abusive drivers of tricycles and pedicabs. Macavinta said they had received many complaints against such tricycle and pedicab drivers who charge exorbitant fares. He said most of these are plying routes in areas affected by tropical storm “Ondoy" (Ketsana). Also, Macavinta said police have beefed up security in evacuation centers. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) inspected Metro Manila’s billboards Thursday night to make sure they are rolled down before the typhoon’s winds hit. DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo said his personnel inspected several billboard sites to make sure the signs are rolled down. He said they were to conduct more inspections Friday to make sure the billboards that are still up are rolled down. Big billboards are considered a hazard as they can kill or injure people they crash down on. Sen. Miriam Santiago lashed out at billboard advertisers for the damage the billboards caused in the wake of killer typhoons "Milenyo" and "Reming" in 2006. “Kahapon at kagabi umikot ang tao at tinitingnan na, may report may ibang billboard di pa rolled down. Tingnan kung rolled down ang billboard (We checked the billboards yesterday and last night. There are reports some billboards are not yet rolled down, and we will inspect them today)," Momo said in an interview on dzBB radio. - GMANews.TV