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Fixed checkpoints to be scrapped, mobile checkpoints to continue: Palace
Malacanang said on Monday fixed checkpoints are to be dismantled while the police will continue with mobile checkpoints.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message to reporters patrol cars plying an area could be more effective in thwarting criminals.
The dismantling of security checkpoints upon the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte will not have a negative effect on the Philippine National Police, its chief said Monday.
Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said Duterte's latest directive is not a problem in their anti-criminality operations.
"Such policy can't be our handicap. It will be the handicap of law enforcers whose motive is extortion," Dela Rosa told reporters in a text message.
Fixed checkpoints, according to Dela Rosa, has become ineffective and irrelevant as criminals just evade them.
"We can establish mobile checkpoints anytime when needed," he said.
Dela Rosa ordered all regional police directors to immediately dismantle checkpoints.
In Metro Manila, police checkpoints were dismantled on Sunday, Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde said.
Albayalde, head of the NCR police, allayed fears the absence of checkpoints would mean easier days are ahead for criminals.
"If these is an incident, we can conduct dragnet operations," Albayalde said in a TV interview.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, has suggested that law enforcers should conduct more patrols.
"Senator Lacson suggested to have more mobile checkpoints instead, meaning more policemen conducting mobile patrol duties, or policemen inside their patrol cars plying around an area," Andanar said.
"This is different from the fixed (road) checkpoints where policemen are in one area asking motorists to stop," he explained.
Duterte earlier said checkpoints should be dismantled as these only caused travel delays, particularly in Mindanao .
He has said checkpoints should only be established if there are information about a suspect passing the area. Celerina Monte, Emmanuel Tupas/DMS
