MANILA, Philippines – Nagbigay ng payo ang Philippine National Police (PNP) sa mga nagbabalak umuwi sa probinsiya o kaya ay magbakasyon sa ibang lugar ngayong holiday season.

Ayon sa PNP, aktibo ang mga masasamang loob sa mga ganitong panahon dahil marami ang umaalis ng kani-kanilang tahanan upang samantalahin ang mahabang bakasyon.

Kaya paalala nito sa publiko, tiyaking nakasara ng maayos at doblehin ang lock ng mga bintana at pinto.

Ibilin sa mapagkakatiwalaang kapitbahay kung kailan babalik upang agad maitawag sa mga otoridad kung may makitang ibang tao sa naiwang bahay.

Ayon kay PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Rhoderick Augustus Alba, mahalaga ring ibilin sa mga sekyu ng subdivision na huwag magpapapasok ng ibang tao na nais magtungo sa naiwang bahay.

“Make sure na secured ang inyong mga bahay lalo na kung matitirang magbabantay, this will hinder criminals o yung akyat bahay from trying to trespass at maiwasan ang mga nakawan,” ani Alba.

Paalala rin ng pulisya, iwasan ang pagpo-post sa social media ng “at the moment” (ATM) na mga larawan kung saan makikitang wala kayo sa inyong tahanan.

“’Wag nating ipo-post kung nasaan tayo, ‘wag tayong mag ‘ATM’ kung baga, marami kasing ganyan maglalagay ng ‘at this moment’ nandito siya so mamo-monitor po kung nasaan kayo,” ang payo ni Major General Vicente Danao Jr., ang direktor ng National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Sa mga bibiyahe, iwasang magsuot ng mamahaling alahas at huwag maglalabas ng mga mamahaling gadget na maaaring makatawag pansin sa mga kawatan.

Dapat ring maging alerto ang publiko lalo na sa mga matatao at pampublikong lugar upang hindi masalisihan.

“Ang advise lang po namin diyan kailangan po tayong mapagmatyag, vigilant kasi some groups would take advantage of it lalong-lalo na po kung namimili tayo ‘wag hayaan na naka-open yung kanilang mga bags at pitaka ay ‘wag idinidisplay,” ani Danao.

Pagtitiyak ng pulisya, tuloy ang kanilang pagpapatrolya at mas maigting ang ipinatutupad na police visibility upang mapangalagaan ang seguridad ng publiko. (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Lea Ylagan)

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) reported a 66.67% increase in violence against women and children (VAWC) cases and a 21.54% increase in rape cases.

QCPD Director BGen. Antonio Yarra reported an increase in VAWC and rape cases in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period last year.

He also noted that the pandemic played a significant role in the upward trend, as most families are at home.

This was compounded by the financial difficulties experienced by many families, resulting in domestic conflict.

Most of the recorded cases were of physical abuse, with psychological abuse a distant second.

“We have launched a campaign to make women aware of their rights and make them advocates so they will be encouraged to report abuses,” he said.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed concern on the issue and rallied victims or their relatives and friends to report such abuses through the QC Protection Center Hotline 122, or to the barangay and QCPD women’s desk.

She also directed concerned local authorities to closely monitor and act swiftly on calls and reports pertaining to VAWC and other gender-based incidents.

“We cannot let any QCitizen suffer from gender-based violence in Quezon City especially during the pandemic,” she said.

Belmonte reported that the Quezon City government together with the QCPD are set to launch a unified information management system to facilitate the monitoring and hasten the investigation of VAWC cases. –AAC

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan of Caloocan City has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (August 25), Malapitan said he is in good condition and is currently under treatment.

“Ako ay nasa maayos na kalagayan at kasalukuyang nagpapagaling (I am in stable condition and currently  recuperating),” he said, though he did not state whether he is at home or confined in a COVID facility.

Malapitan vowed to perform his duties as local chief executive while in isolation, especially in monitoring th e city’s COVID-19 response.

“Patuloy na gagampanan ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Caloocan ang kanyang tungkulin at mandato upang tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(The city government of Caloocan will continue to deliver its duties and mandate to address the needs of its constituents.)

“Umasa po kayo na ang inyong lingkod ay patuloy na nakaantabay sa mga nagaganap at pangyayari sa ating lungsod habang patuloy ang aking komunikasyon sa mga iba’t ibang sangay ng ating pamahalaan,” he added.

(Rest assured that I will continue to monitor events in the city while keeping the lines of communication  with other government agencies open.)

The Mayor also called on all individuals who recently had close contacts with him to immediately go on self-quarantine and take a swab test at local health departments or barangay health centers.

“Hinihikayat ko ang aking mga close contact nitong mga nakaraang araw na kaagad magself-quarantine at sumailalim sa swab test. Mayroon tayong regular na libreng RT-PCR test para sa ating mga mamamayan,” he urged.

(I am asking those I had close contact with in the past few days, to immediately undergo self-quarantine and take a swab test. We have free RT-PCR test for our constituents.)

For those concerned, they may also call on the local government’s COVID hotline numbers 09668274519 or 09478834430.

“Umasa po tayo na malalampasan natin ang pandemyang nagdulot nang matinding kahirapan at sakripisyo sa ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng ating pananampalataya at pagdasal sa Poong Maykapal,” Mayor Malapitan said.

(Let us hope to get past through this pandemic, that has imposed hardship and sacrifice on our country, by keeping our faith in God.)