PNP chief directs cops to instruct students, teachers on crime-prone areas to avoid

As face-to-face classes resume, Philippine National Police Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin on Monday said he directed police personnel to inform students, parents, and teachers of crime-prone areas to avoid.

“We also directed our PNP personnel to conduct orientation briefing sa mga school campuses so that the students, the parents, and the teachers would know the areas that most likely they would avoid so that they will not be victims of any crimes, specifically mga street crimes,” Azurin said in a press conference.

Cops were also directed to be visible near school campuses and to be ready to assist all individuals within the vicinity, especially students, teachers, and parents.

The PNP chief said it was up to the schools if they would allow the presence of cops within school premises.

“But basically kasi our PNP are there to enforce the law, to prevent any occurrence of crimes. So I don't see any reason bakit hindi i-allow ang ating mga pulis within the premises or inside school campuses (so I don’t see any reason why they would not allow cops within campuses),” he said.

Azurin said the PNP had not yet recorded any untoward incidents during the opening of classes.

Department of Education spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said earlier that no major challenges were encountered on the first day of in-person classes.

Asked if the PNP was focusing on specific places for possible crimes and to ensure health protocols, Azurin named the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, and Baguio City.

“So we really need the effort of every PNP na nakikita po sila at doon po kasi yung concentration ng krimen na nangyayari kung minsan kaya dapat doon din po ang concentration ng ating kapulisan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Azurin said the Highway Patrol Group had been directed to ensure that their patrols were continuous and that vehicles operating as public transport were authorized to do so.

"On the part po ng ating HPG, we would want to ensure na ‘yun pong pagpapatrolya po nila ay tuloy-tuloy po and at the same time ay to ensure din po yung mga public transport na gumagala ay eto yung mga authorized na mga public transport,” he said.

“So that hindi ho maging biktima ang ating mga estudyante doon sa mga colorum na baka may masama balak sa ating mga estudyante,” he added.

(So that our students will not become victims of colorum vehicles that do not have the best interests of students in mind.)

He urged students to take note of the vehicles they are riding and the plate numbers.

“Itext ho nila ang kanilang mga magulang, mga kaibigan para nang sa ganun alam po nila kung anong oras sumakay at ano yung expected na dating nila sa kanilang respected na mga bahay,” he said.

(Text these to your parents and your friends so they know what time you rode and what time you are expected to arrive home.) — DVM, GMA News