Acting national police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. has ordered police commanders to make the Christmas season a nightmare for law violators, not for law-abiding citizens.
He emphasized that it is the number of arrests of criminal elements, not the number of criminal incidents, that must rise during the holiday season.
Nartatez issued the directive as he instructed all police units to begin reviewing and updating security preparations for the Christmas and New Year festivities.
“Our goal is to dispute once again the notion that criminal activities—especially robbery and theft—inevitably rise in the days leading to Christmas and New Year,” he said.
“This is part of our main objective of ensuring that Filipinos can enjoy a safe and peaceful Christmas, knowing fully well that we have the longest celebration in the world.”
“Instead of cases of robbery, theft, and other crimes going up, it should be the number of arrests that increases, to prevent criminals from victimizing the public,” he added.
Nartatez stressed the need to challenge public perception of a holiday crime surge through intensified anti-crime operations, particularly against wanted persons and fugitives, many of whom are repeat offenders.
“Instead of the usual fear among peace-loving Filipinos about what criminal elements might do, this time, it’s the criminals who should be afraid,” he said.
Nartatez’s order follows the successful and rapid arrest in Caloocan City on November 10 of two suspects linked to a series of fast-food chain robberies in Bulacan and Pampanga, just hours after the latest crime was committed in Bustos and Sta. Maria towns.
Authorities recovered a gray Toyota Avanza, two sets of license plates, a .38-caliber revolver, P23,000 in cash, and other items linked to the crimes. (Aaron Recuenco)
