The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy additional police officers in malls, shopping centers, streets, and other establishments to prevent crime incidents to happen during the -ber months.

In a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said they always expect that crime rates would increase when the -ber month begins.

“Kaya ang utos po sa ating kapulisan hindi lamang dito sa National Capital Region (NCR) ay kailangan po nandoon po ang police presence para nang sa ganun nararamdaman po sila dapat at nakikipag ugnayan po sila sa mamamayan,” he said.

He emphasized that police presence is better than mere visibility.

Azurin said they will be deploying mobile patrols including the Special Action Force (SAF).

“Kailangan po ay all over po ang ating kapulisan, specifically doon po sa crime-prone areas,” he said.

The PNP chief said he has instructed district directors to inform all barangay leaders with regards to their crime affectation for them to deploy men in the specified areas, and so that intervention can be made.

“Tulong tulong po at sama sama po tayong sugpuin ang kriminalidad dito po sa ating komunidad,” he added.

Azurin earlier reported that crime volume in the country has been on a “steady downtrend” during the first 56 days in office of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

He said there are 29,000 crimes recorded this year, a much lower data when compared to the same period last year under former President Rodrigo Duterte with 35,000 crimes recorded.