IN LINE with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to clear roads and sidewalks, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday, July 30, led the demolition of a police community precinct which occupies part of the sidewalk.
With Albayalde were National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora.
Police Community Precinct 6 in West Crame in San Juan is situated just outside Camp Crame and occupies a portion of the sidewalk.
The structure, which was donated by the local government, was constructed on the sidewalk due to lack of space.
The demolition is in compliance to the order of the President Rodrigo Duterte to reclaim public roads being used for private purposes in order to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
"This is in support to the call of the President to ease traffic hindi lamang sa Metro Manila kundi sa buong Pilipinas since sabi nya sa Sona he's losing billions of pesos a month so ito ay suporta sa call ng ating pangulo at ofcourse suporta na rin sa liderato ng local government units ng San Juan and all other cities ng Metro Manila," said Albayalde.
The local government units were given 60 days to clear road obstructions in their areas of jurisdiction.
Albayalde, however, that PCP 6 operations and services would not be disrupted because the police station will be temporarily transferred to the Barangay Hall.
For his part, Zamora vowed to find a new site for the police precinct.
"Kahit sabihin mong pulis o barangay ang illegal structures ay gigibain natin ito para mapakita sa lahat at mapatunayan na wala po tayong pinipili dito ang batas natin ay para sa lahat, itoy direktiba ni Pangulong Duterte ay susundin po natin sa San Juan," he said.
Albayalde has instructed his men to provide necessary assistance to the local government unit in clearing public roads. (VoxPop Philippines)