NCRPO pushes ‘borderless’ policing across Metro Manila

MANILA — Police officers in Metro Manila will be encouraged to conduct patrols and assist in operations beyond their assigned jurisdictions under a new system launched by the National Capital Region Police Office on Monday.

The initiative, called “Timpuyog,” aims to address jurisdictional boundaries that could complicate police responses to crimes committed by suspects moving between cities and districts.

NCRPO chief Police BGen. Christopher Abrahano led the launch at the Southern Police District headquarters in Taguig City, saying police units should prioritize crime prevention rather than limit their actions to their respective areas.

“[K]ahit na kesyo galing doon sa Pateros ‘yung pulis natin at pumunta ng Taguig, ang importante na prevent ko ‘yung krimen,” Abrahano said.

(Whether the police officer is from Pateros and crosses into Taguig, what is important is preventing crime.)

He said the system would encourage faster communication and coordination among police stations, precincts and substations across Metro Manila.

He said police have become used to being limited to the jurisdiction of their stations or precincts but the new policy is to encourage “policing without boundaries” since perpetrators could come from elsewhere.

“Finormalize lang natin na wala dapat imaginary wall sa mga [Police Community Precinct] natin o sa mga substation,” he added.

(We are just formalizing that there should be no imaginary wall between PCPs or substations.)

He added that police officers would still need to follow existing operational procedures, including coordinating with the concerned units when conducting operations outside their assigned areas.

The system builds on the clustering of police stations under SPD chief Police BGen. Rodel Pastor, which allows neighboring units to support one another in patrols and crime-prevention operations.

The SPD covers the cities of Makati, Taguig, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Las Piñas, as well as the municipality of Pateros.

Abrahano said police units with fewer reported incidents could help patrol neighboring areas, allowing personnel to be deployed where they are needed.