POLICE are ready to secure streets and communities should Metro Manila mayors decide to lift or shorten the uniformed curfew hours in the National Capital Region, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar assured the public yesterday.

The PNP earlier ordered the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. to further intensify their visibility patrols in the streets of the metropolis during curfew hours to accost violators and prevent street crimes including deadly gang wars involving youth offenders.

The top cop gave the assurance as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it is mulling to lift or at least adjust curfew hours to give way to longer mall hours.

At present, the National Capital Region implements curfew from 12 midnight to 4 in the morning.

“Kung magdesisyon man ang mga mayor dito sa Metro Manila na alisin o mas paikliin pa ang curfew, sinisiguro ko na handa ang inyong PNP na ipagpatuloy ang mga patrolya upang siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa. Ito naman ay hindi bagong trabaho sa PNP dahil ito talaga ang mandato namin,” Gen. Eleazar said.

According to MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos, this proposal is still up for the decision of NCR mayors. The national government has decided to still place NCR under Alert Level 3 from November 1 to 14.

COPS ON HEIGHTENED ALERT AMID SLAY OF TOP NPA LEADER

Gen. Eleazar placed all police units and offices on heightened alert in anticipation of possible retaliatory attacks from members of the New People’s Army following the killing of top rebel leader George “Ka Oris” Madlos in an encounter with security troops in Bukidnon.

“The PNP is one with our brothers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in curbing the lawless activities and atrocities of the communist rebels that bring fear and terror to our communities. The entire PNP hails this successful operation as a big blow to the CPP/NPA/NDF,” Gen. Eleazar said.

“Kasabay nito, ipinag-utos ko sa ating kapulisan na mas maging alerto sa posibleng retaliatory attacks ng mga rebelde upang ipaghiganti ang pagkamatay ng isa sa kanilang matataas na pinuno.

Tinitiyak ko sa publiko na hindi namin ito hahayaan. Patuloy ang pakikipagugnayan namin sa AFP upang siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

The AFP reported that members of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade launched the operation after receiving information on the presence of rebels in Sitio Gabunan in Barangay Dumalaguing in Impasugong municipality.

The military said the guerrillas planted anti-personnel mines in the area prompting soldiers to call for air support. The government ttroops then engaged more or less 30 heavily-armed NPA rebels in a firefight which resulted in the death of Madlos and a still unidentified colleague.

“Magkaiba man ang aming paniniwala tungkol sa pagtugon sa mga suliraning panlipunan ay personal kong ipinapaabot ang aking pakikiramay sa pamilya ni Jorge Madlos o Ka Oris,” said the PNP chief.

Gen. Eleazar said Madlos’ death should serve as a warning to remaining communist rebels that the government would not stop in their operations against the CPP/NPA/NDF.

The PNP chief urged the remaining CPP-NPA-NDF leaders and members to surrender and avail of government programs so they could return to the mainstream of society and lead normal lives.