PNP issued directive to improve target hardening measures to prevent rampant bank robberies

Miami
November 12, 2008
Story: PNP issued directive to improve target hardening measures to prevent rampant bank robberies

The Philippine National Police ordered a directive that will help prevent bank robberies happening in Manila.

PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said, “Directorate for Operations Police Director Silverio Alarcio issued a directive to improve target hardening measures and coordinate with the Local Government Units (LGU) and to different banks personnel in an effort to address the problem in bank robbery.”

He explained that the target hardening measures means, “Making it hard for the suspects to penetrate their target area.”

He also added upon renewing of license of the security agencies under PNP Security Agency & Guard
Supervision Division (SAGSD) the PNP will check the skills of the security guards.

“Alertness must be improved security guards should always think something will happen and be prepared for it,” Bartolome said.

He also said that the bank owners should have close circuit TV as ordered by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, “It may be expensive, but it is necessary, it will become an investment for them after all so it would be better if they will have CCTV.”

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) already raised reward money to anyone who can give information to the whereabouts of the robbers that victimizing innocent people.

Initially, the NCRPO has P500,000 reward money but Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte added P200,000 to make it P700,000. Other breakdown; P200,000 came from PNP Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, P100,000 from NCRPO, P100,000 from friends of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Sr. Supt Magtanggol Gatdula and P100,000 from Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

In relation to this, National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) wants to meet with the University of the Philippines Board of Reagents to discuss security measures inside the campus. UP is independent from the PNP, they have their own “UP Police” base on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DILG and the UP requiring the police to stay out of the school’s campuses.