PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the 16 other police regional offices to give more focus in protecting the public against criminal elements amid the downgrading of the COVID-19 alert in the country timed with the forthcoming Yuletide Season.

The top cop instructed the 17 police regional offices to be ready for the nationwide enforcement of the new Alert Level System designed to fight COVID-19 while the nation is also preparing for the coming Christmas and New Year festivities.

The Department of Health (DOH) said that beginning December 1, the Alert Level System will be fully implemented across the country.

Gen. Eleazar said provincial and city police officials should be familiar with the guidelines for each Alert Level under the system to ensure their proper implementation in communities.

“Ngayon pa lamang ay inatasan ko na ang lahat ng Police Regional Offices na paghandaan itong pagpapatupad ng alert level system nationwide. Iba-iba ang mga panuntunan sa bawat alert level system kaya dapat lamang na alam ng bawat pulis kung paano ang deployment nito upang hindi magkaroon ng kalituhan sa pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran,” the PNP chief said.

“Inaasahan natin na magkakaroon rin ng pagluluwag sa mga regulasyon sa mga lalawigan o rehiyon na naaayon sa alert level at kaakibat ng pagluwag na ito ay ang mas maraming tao na maaari nang lumabas. Kasabay nito, mas maraming negosyo na rin ang magbubukas,” he pointed out.

Gen. Eleazar ordered his men to further intensify their visibility patrols to deter criminality and protect the citizenry specifically during the forthcoming Yuletide season.

NCRPO director, Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. said they have stepped up their conduct of foot and mobile patrols and deployment of plainclothes officers in the streets specifically in places of convergence to protect the public from lawless elements.

The National Capital Region has been placed under Alert Level 2 until November 21. Starting December 1, the alert level assignments will be determined every 15th and 30th of the month.

Gen. Eleazar reminded police personnel outside the NCR to properly implement health protocols so that the Alert Level System could also be effective in curbing the further increase of COVID-19 cases like in Metro Manila.

“Napatunayang mabisa ang alert level system sa pagtulong sa pagpapababa pa ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila. Kaya tutulong ang PNP na tiyaking magiging epektibo ang sistemang ito sa buong bansa,” he said.

The top cop also encouraged the public to continue observing minimum public health standards so that the decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases would continue while maintaining their vigilance to help prevent criminality.

“Ngayong lalo pang niluwagan ang patakaran dahil sa patuloy na pagbaba ng COVID cases sa bansa, inatasan ko na ang lahat ng aming unit commanders na lalo pang paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad dahil tiyak ko na isa sa mga nabuhayan ng loob ay ang mga kriminal na gustong bumalik sa dating gawi ng kanilang mga iligal na gawain,” said the PNP chief.

“Mahirap pa rin ang buhay ngayon dahil sa epekto ng pandemya kaya mananatiling kabahagi ang inyong PNP sa pagprotekta sa mga pinag-hirapang pera ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

Gen. Eleazar explained that the focus on anti-crime measures is important especially that more people are expected to go out on the days leading to the yuletide season.

Aside from the easing of protocols, the IATF also approved the recommendation of the sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics to base the alert level assignments on data nearest to the enforcement date.

“I am also expecting all our unit commanders especially in Metro Manila to adopt the best practices that were implemented at the height of the pandemic restrictions in order to restrict the movement of criminal elements, especially the motorcycle-riding criminals, in urban areas,” Gen. Eleazar said.

The PNP chief instructed the NCRPO to ensure that all personnel are well-informed of the guidelines set under the Alert Level 2 to avoid any confusion in enforcement.

At the same time, he called on the public to cooperate with efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by continuing to observe minimum public health standards.

“Inaasahan din namin sa PNP na sa gitna ng pagluwag ng patakaran ay magiging ibayo pa rin ang pag-iingat ng ating mga kababayan at mananatiling disiplinado sa pagsunod ng ilan pang natitirang patakaran upang matiyak ang kapakanan ng bawat isa,” Gen. Eleazar said.