The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now preparing to support the Department of Education’s opening of classes as it laid out its nationwide security and public safety plan ahead of the June 1 school opening. An estimated 25 million students are expecte to return to schools this year, in NCR alone the PNP will deploy more than 24,000 personnels.
The PNP already issued the operational guidelines for “Oplan Ligtas Balik-Eskwela 2015,” on orders of PNP Officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the PNP Directorate for Operations will mobilize all regional offices and national support units for the June 1 opening of classes.
Gen. Espina gave police regional directors and the discretion to raise alert conditions if they find it necessary. The main concerns of the PNP is to prevent street crimes such as pickpocket, snatching, swindling, robbery and street-level drug trafficking.
According to the PNP’s preparations in Metro Manila alone, the NCRPO vowed to sweep the University belt of criminal elements as it fields all its 24,000 personnel near schools for foot, mobile and police visibility patrols.
The PNP Officers will be augmented by Baranga (Village) Peacekeeping Action Teams as Police assistance desks manned by police and BPAT personnel will be set up near schools and universities in Metro Manila.
