PNP to continue conducting checkpoint operations
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue to conduct checkpoint operations as part of its anti-criminality campaign throughout the country, a ranking police official said Wednesday.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said that while checkpoint operations were intensified during the election period, such activities will continue at the discretion of local police commanders.
“Checkpoint operations either election period or not, we have been adopting that especially when needed,” said Espina.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to establish Joint Security Coordinating Centers (JSCCs) throughout the country to impose the total gun ban during the election period as part of the government’s step-up measures to ensure the peaceful holding of the last May 10 polls.
However, the Comelec-prescribed election period, which started last January 10, will end midnight Wednesday.
“Our regional directors, local commanders are given the discretion to maintain checkpoints in their respective areas as part of our campaign against crime groups,” said Espina.
“What is important here is our fight against criminals. Our campaign against private armed groups, lawless elements, accounting of loose firearms under the National Firearms Control Program, unlicensed firearms in the hands of criminal elements and threat groups will continue,” said Espina.
At the same time, Espina said the PNP high command has already lowered its alert level to normal but maintained that PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has given all PNP regional directors the option to raise their alert status if necessary.
“We’ve gone back to normal (alert status) already after the elections. It’s just up to the regional directors, individual directors, if they need to raise one notch higher,” said Espina. (PNA)
