Angeles mayor wants 24-hour police visibility in city’s streets

ANGELES CITY--Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr., has ordered for more police visibility in the city's streets particularly along public markets to deter theft and robbery of business establishments.

This was discussed by Lazatin with Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel on August 23 during his meeting with Angeles City Police Office Director Colonel Rommel Batangan and six station commanders here, upon reports of theft in public markets and convenience stores.

The city government is allotting P11 million annually for the allowances of ACPO personnel.

To date, P500,000 in remaining funds will be used as budget for gas for the 24/7 roving activities of the police.

“Nais po natin na mas mapanatili yung 24/ 7 na pagroronda ng mga kapulisan natin nang sa gayon ay hindi maengganyo ang pananalisi ng masasamang gawain,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin also reiterated that with the increase in police visibility, business owners

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and the public can be confident in reporting theft and robbery incidents their areas.

"This is to end if not reduce the number of theft and robbery cases in the city," the mayor added.

Currently, the Angeles City Emergency Disaster Command Center has 165 cameras in strategic areas of the city which deter crime. Cameras are Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ)– eight megapixels, 360 degrees rotate, and with 36x optical zoom lens – and bullet CCTVs – four megapixels with infrared capability at night.

Further, Col. Batangan together with station commanders Major Edsel Carbungco (Station 1); Major Marlon Ventus (Station 2); Major Christopher Lalic (Station 3); Major Ohmar Bognot (Station 4); Major Alfred Andal (Station 5); and Captain Rolly De Luna (Station 6) have commited to continue to build the confidence of the public on law enforcement, as they are one with the city government in the fight against crime and violence.

It can be recalled that amid the lockdown in March 2020, Mayor Lazatin also instructed the ACPO personnel to conduct 24/ 7 roving and ordered for the installation of checkpoints in the city’s entry points and the barangay level.

To date, the ACPO is still conducting 24/7 checkpoints in the city’s entry points. The crime during the lockdown period also decreased compared to 2019, according to the ACPO – from 8.57 percent to 5.32 percent down to 3.25 percent.

Also, with the relentless teamwork between the ACPO and Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC), 652 anti-illegal drug operations were busted, where some 999 persons were arrested and 5,133 grams of shabu and 186,921 grams of marijuana were confiscated, amounting to P57 million.

This is part of the six-point agenda of Mayor Lazatin, which is to eradicate illegal drugs.

The intensified anti-criminality efforts resulted in the confiscation of 42 loose firearms and the arrest of 21 most wanted persons and 282 wanted persons.