PHILIPPINE National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has ordered regional police directors to dismantle unnecessary checkpoints as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte, adding that the move would also help check corruption among policemen.
Dela Rosa said fixed checkpoints only have a minimal impact in fighting crime because criminals can simply evade them.
“The policy will not be a handicap. That will only be a handicap to the law enforcers who are only interested in mulcting people,” Dela Rosa said. “[Besides,] we can establish mobile checkpoints anytime when needed.”
Metro Manila police director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde agreed that Duterte’s order to dismantle checkpoints should not affect anti-crime operations although Metro Manila remains on Level 3 alert because of the national memorial for the dead, locally called Undas.
“[The dismantling of checkpoints] should not affect operations because we can convert them to police visibility measures, like beat patrols and mobile patrols,” Albayalde said.
“As of last night, dinismantle na ang checkpoints after we got a text message from the Directorate for Operations,” he added.
For instance, Albayalde said the 7,714 policemen were deployed in the 99 cemeteries in Metro Manila despite the dismantling of checkpoints.
“In Metro Manila we maintain [the alert] at Level 3 just to ensure our operational readiness and target hardening measures,” Albayalde said in a television interview.
Albayalde reiterated his warning to the people to refrain from bringing to cemeteries banned items such as firearms, alcoholic drinks, gambling materials, loud sound systems, among others.
He also advised the public to be vigilant and immediately report to authorities any suspicious items or persons.
Dela Rosa earlier ordered checkpoints nationwide to secure vital installations following the Davao night market bombing in Davao City last month but Duterte said on Saturday that security checkpoints are causing travel delays and should be dismantled.
In the interview, Albayalde said there were also no untoward incidents reported, and he expects the same to continue until Tuesday.