NEWLY installed Southern Police District (SPD) Director P/BGen. Jimili Macaraeg ordered a 24/7 deployment of police personnel at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) due to an expected influx of passengers following the downgrading of the National Capital Region Plus from the modified enhanced community quarantine status to the general community quarantine (GCQ).

PITX Corporate Affairs and Government Relations head Jason Salvador said in a weekly news forum by the Southern Metro Manila Press Club that currently, around 40,000 passengers are being accommodated daily at the state-of-the-art public transport terminal.

This number is expected to increase to around 60,000 to 80,000 since commuters are now free to travel to and from their respective provinces under GCQ.

The SPD Director said police personnel from the Parañaque Sub-Station 2 under the supervision of its station commander P/Maj. Jolly Soriano shall enforce, not only the minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, but most of all, an effective crime prevention.

During the forum, Macaraeg also discussed that his plans in SPD are in line with the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar’s programs, and he will see to it that these are implemented from the district down to the police stations and sub-stations.

He also said that the SPD will continue to conduct police checkpoints and visibility, and advised every citizen that wearing of face masks and face shields is a must.

Macaraeg added that it is important to have a harmonious relationship between the PNP and the media since both are partners in information dissemination in all police activities, upholding the right of the people to be informed on matters of public interest especially amid the pandemic.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Edd Reyes