SM mall did not comply with 2013 security pact – police

 News
Dec 162013
 
SM mall did not comply with 2013 security pact – police

Robbers use hammers to steal jewelry in SM North EDSA. Security personnel of SM North EDSA cordon off the crime scene where a so-called “martilyo gang” struck on Sunday night, stealing jewelry on display and causing shoppers to panic. Jun Veneracion, GMA News Mall security measures forged nearly a year ago in the aftermath of another martilyo gang heist were not implemented and may have made the jewelry robbery on Sunday at the SM North EDSA mall easier for the suspects to carry out, the Philippine National Police said. PNP officials said procedures on the sale of hardware and the provision of improved CCTV security camera systems were among the measures that were apparently not taken seriously. The PNP said hardware purchased inside the malls were supposed to have been turned over to buyers outside the mall premises. Higher-resolution CCTV systems and constant monitoring of security videos were also agreed upon months ago, but the PNP said the poor quality of the video footage of the heist last Sunday is a clear indicator of the lack of compliance. Grainy video of the Sunday robbery and a receipt showed that the suspects used a hammer and a crowbar purchased in the mall. The MOA, which was forged with the Mall Security Managers Association, provided that shoppers who bought tools like hammers  would claim their purchased items outside the mall, Raffy Tima reported on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho Monday evening. The agreement was struck in the Read More …

Jordanian journalist expected back in Manila–PNP

 News
Dec 062013
 
Jordanian journalist expected back in Manila–PNP

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 2:05 pm | Friday, December 6th, 2013 Veteran Middle Eastern TV reporter Baker Atyani looks at his X-ray record as he undergoes medical check-up following his release from one-and-a-half years of captivity in Jolo, the capital of the island province of Sulu in Southern Philippines late Wednesday Dec.4, 2013. (AP Photo/Nickee Butlangan) MANILA, Philippines–The Jordanian journalist who escaped his Abu Sayyaf captors is expected back in Manila later this Friday, the Philippine National Police said Friday. He’s on his way here,” Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao told a media briefing. Baker Atyani is expected to be brought to the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group office upon his arrival. PNP spokesperson Reuben Theodore Sindac added that the Jordanian journalist may arrive at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City between 3 and 4 p.m.After 18 months in captivity, Atyani escaped from the Abu Sayyaf camp in Patikul, Sulu on Wednesday. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Abu Sayyaf , Baker Atyani , captive , Jordan , journalist , Moro rebel group , release Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Read More …

PNP cadaver recovery team continues efforts in Yolanda-hit areas

 Entertainment
Nov 282013
 
PNP cadaver recovery team continues efforts in Yolanda-hit areas

Rescue workers carry a body bag containing the body of a five-year-old boy as they walk past houses destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in the town of Tanauan November 20, 2013. The Philippines and international armed forces and aid agencies are struggling to get help to devastated areas due to the extent of the destruction, which has left four million people displaced, threatening Aquino’s reforms that have helped transform the country into one of Asia’s fastest-growing emerging economies.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippine National Police is still on full-operation mode in disaster-hit areas after Typhoon Yolanda brought wide devastation in the Visayas region, PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima said on Saturday. “The Cadaver Recovery Team of PNP Special Action Force Search and Rescue (SAF SAR) Team, continuously exert efforts in recovery of casualties in the Visayas,” said Purisima, citing reports coming from the PNP sub-committee on disaster management. He added that the search, retrieval, relief, law enforcement, security and other police operations of the 1,157 PNP personnel are continuously conducted in the provinces of Leyte and Samar to assist local police units. “This is the time for solidarity amongst us along the spirit of Serbisyong Makakatohanan. Together, we will rise and recover soon from the tragedy,” the Chief PNP said in a statement. Meanwhile, in a phone interview, Task Force Cadaver Commander Senior Supt. Pablito Corbeta said they had recovered a total of 1,841 bodies since Nov. 15 up to Nov. 22 of retrieval operations in Tacloban City. He Read More …

PNP: Venue ready if Senate decides to grill Napoles in Laguna

 News
Oct 192013
 
PNP: Venue ready if Senate decides to grill Napoles in Laguna

A structure is available to serve as a venue for the Senate to grill suspected pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles – if the Senate decides to hold the hearing at the fort where she is detained. Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the structure is near Napoles’ detention facility inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna, radio dzBB reported Saturday. Sindac said the structure can be spruced up to serve as an inquiry room for senators investigating the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. The Senate blue ribbon committee is looking into Napoles’ role in the scam, where she is accused of setting up fake non-government organizations to siphon the Priority Development Assistance Fund of some lawmakers. Napoles and some lawmakers have since been charged with plunder for the pork barrel scam mess. Earlier this month, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he will sign a subpoena for Napoles to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee’s inquiry. However, security remains a concern for Napoles. Authorities had invoked security in transferring her to Fort Sto. Domingo last September 1. The pork barrel mess has elicited outrage from the public, and triggered several gatherings calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system. — LBG, GMA News

PNP adopts 'EDSA Tayo' security plan; intel community alert for Sept 11 threats

 News
Sep 092013
 
PNP adopts 'EDSA Tayo' security plan; intel community alert for Sept 11 threats

The Metro Manila police have adopted a security plan for Wednesday’s anti-pork barrel prayer vigil at the EDSA shrine, that takes into account Monday’s Zamboanga City gun battles. As part of the security plan, Police officers are to inspect backpacks at the “EDSA Tayo” prayer vigil. Metro Manila police head Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. said they did not want a repeat of the Boston Marathon bombing at the “EDSA Tayo” event, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. A backpack was used to conceal pressure-cooker bombs in the Boston Marathon bombing earlier this year. Police units area also prepared for the possibility of a spillover from the Zamboanga City clashes. Government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front gunmen fought a battle within the city limits Monday, leaving six people dead. Wednesday’s “EDSA Tayo” activity is a follow-up of the August 26 anti-pork barrel gathering at the Luneta in Manila. Sept 11 terror attack Meanwhile, Intelligence units of the Philippine National Police are on alert for possible threats marking the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attack on the United States. PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are working with the intelligence community to verify possible threats on the anniversary, radio dzBB’s Tuesday Niu reported. Sindac added the PNP has not forgotten the significance of the 2001 terror attack, in which hijacked planes were flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Also, Sindac said the PNP’s intelligence unit is exchanging notes with its counterparts Read More …

Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

 News
Aug 142013
 
Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

Until it gets a copy of the arrest warrant for trader Janet Lim Napoles and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, the Philippine National Police admitted Thursday morning it cannot join the hunt for them. Otherwise, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are set to help the National Bureau of Investigation track them, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. NBI teams had fanned out to areas where Napoles is suspected to be hiding but had so far failed to locate her.  The Makati City Regional Trial Court had issued an arrest warrant for the Napoleses for the alleged illegal detention of the whistleblower in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.  Sindac said that until the PNP gets a copy of the warrant, its hands are tied. Meanwhile, the NBI and Bureau of Immigration are expanding their watch for Napoles to small airports, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda said their men will inspect flight manifests, even of private planes. —KG, GMA News

Roxas to end 'padrino' culture in PNP with raffle system

 News
Jul 112013
 
Roxas to end 'padrino' culture in PNP with raffle system

(Updating 5 p.m.) A raffle system will soon be implemented for aspiring policemen in an effort to end the “padrino” system in the police force, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said Thursday. “Lahat ng kwalipikado ngayon ipapasok ‘yung pangalan nila sa isang tambyolo, at pagpili ay pantay-pantay para sa lahat, hindi na kailangan ng padrino o ng kakilala, hindi na kailangan ng insider na tutulong,” Roxas told reporters in an interview during the launch of the European Union-Philippine Government Justice Support Program in Camp Crame. Roxas, acknowledging the limited entry level slots for policemen, said the new system will discourage potential applicants from looking for powerful backers within the Philippine National Police (PNP), which in turn would break the cycle of corruption within the police force. “Sa ganung paraan ay makakapagsimula ang ating PO1s sa kanilang career na hindi sila gumawa ng panunuhol sa pagiging pulis,” he said. Concrete step No date yet on when the PNP will implement the new system, as its implementing rules have yet to be finalized by the National Police Commission (Napolcom). “Isa ito sa utos sa Napolcom, na i-finalize na ‘yung implementing rules nito at sa darating na mga linggo ay implement na ito,” Roxas said. Roxas described the new system as a “concrete step” toward eliminating corruption in the PNP. Roxas’ statement came at the heels of a latest survey by Berlin-based Transparency International showing 69 percent of Filipinos feel that the PNP is still corrupt. The survey, which was conducted Read More …

Roxas: PNP to hire 15,000 civilians to free cops from admin tasks

 Entertainment
Jul 062013
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Tuesday announced that President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has approved the hiring of 15,000 civilian employees for the Philippine National Police (PNP). The move, Roxas said, is part of the efforts of the DILG to improve police visibility as the civilian […]

PNP to strut new uniforms by December

 News
Jul 042013
 
PNP to strut new uniforms by December

PNP designs new uniforms for its personnel. Five designers helped the PNP Directorate for Research and Development in creating these proposed police uniforms which will replace the current ones being worn by PNP personnel in various fields. Ian Cruz After 17 years, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will have new designs for its uniforms, which would be distributed before the year ends. “Hopefully lang matapos ang research pero depende pa rin sa availability sa fabric, manufacturing and distribution… In six months siguro may bago ng uniform. Siguro before December,” Gil Hitosis, police director for PNP’s research and development, told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Thursday. “[The uniform] should answer the needs of the police officer. We weigh and assess the design based on comfort, protection and better aesthetic,” he noted. The new designs will be unveiled in “Cop Walk… PNP on the Ramp” an event organized by the PNP which aims to showcase the evolution and future design of police uniforms in the country. “Cop Walk” will be staged at Camp Crame’s Multipurpose Hall on Thursday evening, Ian Cruz reported on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali.” In a statement, the PNP said the show “will feature creations of Filipino fashion icons like Rene Salud, Eddie Baddeo and other independent designers who will help provide the PNP with essential inputs in coming up with the best quality and comfortable PNP uniform and paraphernalia by making use of the creativity of students from fashion designer schools and manufacturers of suppliers Read More …

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