The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday, April 8, reported that it apprehended more than 24,000 individuals during the first two days of strict implementation of rules and regulations aimed at instilling discipline and boosting peace and order in the metropolis.
The operations were carried out by the Manila, Quezon City, Northern, Southern, and Eastern police districts.
In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo said 24,881 violators were apprehended under the newly launched Safer Cities initiative, which enforces stricter implementation of rules and regulations following the policing initiatives of NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin under the “Able, Active and Allied” policing approach.
Of the 24,881 violators apprehended, Asilo said the Southern Police District recorded the highest number with 12,211. Violations of the drinking-in-public ordinance reached 8,075, while 6,369 were fined, 219 were formally charged, and 18,293 were released with warnings. A combined total of P5.6 million in citation fines is set to be collected.
“Right now, we have no repeat offenders recorded, but our recording depends on our stations. We are still checking, especially for minors. Of those we arrested these past two days, we haven’t monitored any repeat offenders. After checking the e-warrants or e-rogue to see if they have existing or previous cases, we haven’t recorded any offenses,” Asilo said.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla earlier ordered stricter enforcement of ordinances banning street drinking, shirtless roaming, and late-night videoke sessions as part of the Safer Cities initiative.
The initiative will be implemented first in Metro Manila and will soon be enforced in all urban areas across the country.
“Right now we are obliging the barangays to join us. Before, it was more up to the police to go around for local ordinances. Now they are obligated to come because that is an order from the SILG, and they are with and under the DILG,” Asilo stressed.
The Safer Cities effort, launched on April 6, 2026,
supports the Philippine National Police’s focused agenda under Enhanced Managing Police Operations and aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify visible policing and encourage a stronger sense of public security.
“This Safer Cities initiative reflects our dedication not only to enforce the law but to make every neighborhood safer and more livable. We are out here not just to write tickets, but to remind everyone that peaceful communities are built when people follow rules that protect us all,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
Nartatez emphasized that the initiative balances firmness with fairness.
“We are here to protect the public and ensure that every Filipino can feel safe,” he said, underscoring that operations must always respect human rights and the dignity of every citizen.
Nartatez said police personnel were instructed to strictly follow operational procedures anchored on respect for human rights and the rule of law.
He added that police commanders were directed to coordinate with local government units, especially at the barangay level.
Nartatez appealed to the public to comply with the rules being enforced.
