InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - On the 40th year since the declaration of Martial Law, and with Metro Manila seeing a rise in criminality, the director of the National Capital Region Police Office announced that "secret marshals" will be deployed to passenger vehicles to protect consumers.
Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina also warned criminals to stop their activities "if you want to live longer."
Secret marshals were first deployed during the Marcos dictatorship but the experiment at crime fighting was short-lived after several incidents that saw innocent civilians mistakenly killed by the undercover policemen. Looser rules of engagement also raised concerns about due process.
Espina said policemen "will be more than glad" to clash with criminals.
"We at the NCRPO are one in the belief that those who prey on innocent civilians should be held accountable. We will be … very soon going down to the smallest barangay, to secure them. We will do our best, pass or fail," Espina said during a visit to the headquarters of the Northern Police District.
Soon after Espina's appointment as Metro Manila's police chief was announced, his son fell victim to an extortion attempt by, of all people, two policemen.
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