Malacañang has lauded the Philippine National Police’s visibility on the streets, saying it was effective in curbing crime and was far from outdated.

Palace spokesperson Undersecretary Claire Castro said the effectiveness of the PNP’s 3-to-5-minute quick response strategy was recently proven when a cellphone snatcher in Rizal province was caught in just three minutes.

“According to a PNP report, responding police officers intercepted the suspect minutes after he snatched the victim’s cell phone. Recovered from the snatcher were the victim’s mobile phone, gambling paraphernalia, and a pen gun allegedly used in the holdup,” Castro said in Filipino in a Palace briefing on Wednesday.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered P/Gen. Nicolas Torre III to make the people feel safe by enhancing police visibility and quick response times.

Torre abolished police boxes and community precincts and deployed officers to the streets, ordering them to keep their phone lines open for calls to 911.

Castro said Torre relieved a police chief in Rizal province due to the slow response of his men in a theft case.

It was discovered that the officer’s men merely sent the businessman home after he had filed a complaint about a theft incident.

“The PNP chief emphasized that there is no room for laziness and slow action in the police force. Swift action is proof of the police’s dedication to providing concrete solutions and serving the people,” Castro said.