The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution on Tuesday expressing full support to the memorandum of PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde directing all police units to strengthen the enforcement of laws and local government ordinances to prevent the occurrence of street crimes authored by Board Member Maria Angela V. Sabando.
In this memorandum directed to all PNP units and offices, PNP Chief Albayalde reminded all personnel to intensify and monitor the strict implementation of laws by arresting the violators such as those who drink and smoke in public places, roam the streets without shirts, use karaoke beyond the allowed time as well as the minors who violate curfew hours, among others.
In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Duterte mentioned that there is a need to strictly enforce national and local laws to stop the occurrence of crimes in communities.
“We heed the call of President Duterte to continue our gains against street crimes and enforcement of laws and local ordinances of our communities. I only remind them that our operational thrust is the active presence and aggressive deployment of our policemen on the streets that must be seen and felt by the community,” Albayalde said.
Street crimes are criminal activities usually committed outdoors, in public or unfamiliar places, normally in the town or in the city which include snatching, pick-pocketing, theft, physical injury, extortion, vandalism and any other related criminal acts that take place within the street. Anyone could be a victim of street crimes, but the most common target victims are children, teenagers, old people and young adults.
The local government units especially the barangay officials must be alert and shall deploy barangay police officers to specific places where there are high incidents of street crimes, in order to maintain peace and order and prevent those with criminal minds from committing crimes.
They must also disseminate the information to the community to make the constituents aware of the existence of such crimes, the specific area where it takes place, and the time when it usually occurs to prevent them from becoming victims.
The resolution was passed by the provincial legislature during its 8th Regular Session on August 20.