PNP taps ‘tanods’ for additional police visibility

The Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed that it is training barangay tanods and other community security personnel to help increase the visibility of patrol officers in communities.

This comes as the PNP deployed about 21,200 personnel to patrol Metro Manila since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an increase in police presence to deter crime in the capital region.

Police Major Hazel Asilo, spokesperson for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said police need force multipliers such as security guards and members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team to help maintain peace and order.

“We are conducting training so they are updated on new laws that we need to implement, as well as handcuffing techniques, defense tactics. We are teaching them so they can defend themselves and maximize their capabilities as barangay security force or tanod,” said Asilo.

She added that security guards are also being tapped to help report crimes, and the NCRPO’s administrative personnel have been assigned a two-hour patrol duty in addition to their office tasks.

“Instead of 7 a.m., as early as 4 a.m., you can already see our police officers on the ground, ready to provide police assistance, especially to our fellow citizens who wake up early to go to work,” Asilo said.

“This number may still increase once we get new police graduates,” she added.

The intensified patrols in communities are part of the administration’s response to public demand for improved government services.

The NCRPO previously demonstrated a full-scale intensification of its police visibility operations, aiming for a constant and credible police presence across Metro Manila communities.

The demonstration at the NCRPO Grandstand in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, was attended by key officials, including Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, highlighting the government’s unified effort to enhance public safety and community trust.

The event featured a live tactical briefing and operational display at the Regional Tactical Operations Center, showcasing the NCRPO’s real-time deployment system, improved communication, and response time monitoring. A subsequent program emphasized the importance of visibility in modern policing.

A total of 21,532 personnel from the five police districts, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, and the Regional Headquarters have been deployed across Metro Manila as part of the recalibrated visibility strategy.

This deployment includes 12,539 officers on beat patrols, 2,944 on mobile patrols (1,993 in vehicles, 931 on motorcycles, and 20 on bicycles), and 293 officers stationed at MRT/LRT facilities.

Additionally, 629 personnel are assigned to checkpoints, 344 to border control points, 1,794 to fixed visibility posts and outposts, and 2,989 to administrative patrol duties. Supporting these efforts are 240 force multipliers, including trained community volunteers and partner stakeholders, who will act as additional eyes and ears on the ground.

Remulla reiterated the government’s directive to foster familiarity and security between law enforcement and the public, echoing President Marcos Jr.’s message emphasizing the sense of safety that comes from regular police presence.

The NCRPO’s efforts align with the upcoming nationwide “Cops on the Beat” program, designed to institutionalize consistent police presence, improve emergency response, and strengthen community engagement. The event concluded with a field visitation and inspection at the Quezon City Police District headquarters, followed by a press conference detailing the recalibrated deployment strategy across Metro Manila.

In other developments, the Northern Police District (NPD), which oversees Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, announced it will deploy “force multipliers” to support the NCRPO’s intensified visibility initiative.

Police Colonel Amante Daro, the NPD’s deputy district director for Administration, said the additional personnel will come from the District Mobile Force Battalion and administrative staff.