302 ORDINANCE VIOLATORS, CRIME SUSPECTS IN MAKATI ARRESTED

THE Makati Police Department reported on Saturday the arrest of 302 offenders of various city ordinances during simultaneous anti- criminality and law enforcement operations over the past weekend. In a report to Makati City Mayor Mar-len Abigail "Abby" Binay, Senior Supt. Rogelio Simon, the city police chief, said that from September 21 to 22, Makati officers arrested 26 crime suspects and 87 ordinance violators. The suspects nabbed included nine individuals with outstanding warrants of arrest from the Makati Regional Trial Court. Four were caught violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and eight for violating Presidential Decree 1602 or the Anti-Illegal Gambling Act. Individuals caught violating city ordinances last Saturday and Sunday included 51 booked for smoking in public, six for drinking in public places and 30 minors for violating the city-imposed curfew. A total of 189 traffic violators were also apprehended during Oplan Bulabog operations. Binay commended the Makati police force for increasing police visibility, which she said made Makatizens or residents of Makati feel safer after the arrest of the ordinance violators and the crime suspects. “The city government and all Makatizens are deeply grateful for your untiring dedication to maintain peace and order on our streets and communities at all hours, rain or shine,” she said in a statement. In the past four months, the Makati police reported the arrest of 348 drug suspects, 349 gamblers and 180 wanted persons. Also, 218 suspects were arrested for index crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robber and motorcycle theft. During the period, the police also apprehended 2,136 minors for violating curfew hours and apprehended 175 for drinking in public streets and places, 22 for being shirtless in public places, 1,774 for violating the smoking ban and 124 for violating other local ordinances, such as the ban on urinating in public places. The mayor earlier directed the Makati police force crackdown on violators of city ordinances in order to instill discipline and to prevent crimes. Recently, the National Capital Region Police Office also commended the Makati police for topping the ongoing drive against violators of local ordinances, yielding 3,878 offenders recorded from June 13 to August 31 this year.