More cops in Makati urged
SEN. Nancy Binay on Friday appealed to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil to fasttrack the augmentation of police units to address rising crime in Makati.
During the deliberations for the 2025 PNP budget, Binay asked police officials to allocate more personnel to the country’s financial capital citing the alarming reports in criminal activities such as robbery, theft, drugs, and other petty crimes.
“As the financial capital of the Philippines, it is important that we maintain peace and order in Makati, where not only locals, but also expatriates, and various other visitors of the many commercial establishments, offices, and embassies frequent the city day and night,” Binay said.
Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about increasing crime in the city. This month, police arrested two suspects accused of robbing two Japanese nationals in Salcedo Village.
The call for police augmentation highlights the urgent need to strengthen Makati’s police force and to maintain its status as a safe and dynamic urban center. Makati only has 512 police personnel, with a daytime population of 4,200,000 and nighttime population of 280,150.
The police to population ratio for the city is at 1:17,004 during the day, and 1:1,134 at night. Fajardo said that they are stretched thin, with officers patrolling three barangays — Bel-Air, Poblacion, and Guadalupe Viejo — each night.
Guadalupe Viejo is one of Makati’s most densely populated areas, while Poblacion is known for its nightlife scene. Substation 6, which is in charge of patrolling three barangays –Bel-Air, Poblacion, known for its nightlife scene, and Guadalupe Viejo, a densely populated area– operates with just 33 personnel, each working 12-hour shifts, six days a week.
Binay has repeatedly aired her concern about the lack of police personnel in her home city. “Baka po pwede ma-augment itong personnel from Makati. Being the financial capital of the Philippines, tapos alam naman po natin kapag mayroon tayong mga VIP guests, usually nagche-check in din sila sa mga 5-star hotel sa Makati,” the lawmaker said.
“So baka lang po for next year’s allocation, baka pwede naman madagdagan ang for Makati,” she added.