PNP: More than 61,000 petty crimes stopped   

The Philippine National Police has recorded more than 60,000 violations of local government ordinances over six days as the Manila Police District (MPD) temporarily suspended the operation because of public perceptions that it is “antipoor” and because of the intensely hot weather at this time of year.

According to PNP data, smoking and drinking liquor in streets accounted for the most common offense, totaling 18,904 cases out of 61,549 violations recorded from April 6 to April 11 across the National Capital Region under the “Safer Metro Manila Plan.”

The Safer Metro Manila Plan is part of the broader “Safer Cities Initiative,” launched by the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to deter crime through strict ordinance enforcement.

Among the petty crimes reported, roaming streets without a shirt accounted for 526 cases, followed by 586 curfew violations involving minors and 70 karaoke-related offenses.

The remaining 30,243 cases were classified under other local ordinance violations, such as loitering, public disturbance and similar breaches.

Of those apprehended, 39,205 were warned and released, 21,317 were fined, and 1,027 were filed in court. On April 11 alone, authorities recorded 8,256 violators across Metro Manila and 2,290 cases of drinking and smoking in public spaces.

The Northern Police District led with 2,155 cases, followed by the Southern Police District with 2,041, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) with 1,602, the MPD with 1,269 and the Eastern Police District with 1,189.

This was followed by shirtless roaming with 526 cases, curfew breaches involving minors with 586, karaoke violations with 70 and other ordinance infractions totaling 4,784.

Disposition data for April 11 showed 3,800 individuals fined, 145 charged in court and 4,311 warned or released.

The PNP did not say the campaign’s impact on index crimes, such as robbery, murder or rape, but PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that low-level offenses are often a “breeding ground” for more serious crimes, thus they are “nipping them in the bud.”

Consider the heat

Meanwhile, the MPD ordered the temporary suspension of strict enforcement of local ordinances penalizing shirtless individuals in public, amid perceived “antipoor” impact.

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“In light of recent public sentiment and reports regarding the perceived ‘anti-poor’ impact of certain local ordinances, particularly those penalizing individuals for not wearing shirts in public places (half-naked), all units are hereby directed to temporarily suspend the strict enforcement of said ordinances,” said MPD spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines in a text message to reporters on Sunday.

Ines said they “shall issue appropriate warnings and conduct information drives emphasizing proper decorum and community standards.”

Ines did not specify until when the MPD would suspend implementation but he stressed that the move seeks to maintain public trust and promote humane, compassionate policing across all areas.

For its part, the QCPD is also ramping up its information campaign on the ordinance concerning public decorum, particularly of wearing appropriate attire in public places.

As part of the effort, all QCPD police stations have been instructed to carry out awareness drives, engage residents and issue proper warnings to help the public better understand these regulations.