THE public should expect the closing of police boxes and police community precincts (PCPs), especially in Metro Manila, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) enforces the public’s use of the 911 emergency response hotline.
In a press conference Wednesday, June 4, 2025, PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III said there is no need for police boxes and PCPs since the public can already call for police response through their mobile phones.
“We will see na may mga police boxes at PCPs na isasarado because kung wala rin lang imbestigasyon diyan sa mga police boxes at saka sa mga precincts, I would rather have our policemen walk their beats, pound the streets. Sakay sa patrol car, dala ng radio,” Torre said.
("We will see that some police boxes and precincts will be closed, because if no investigations are being conducted there, I would rather have our policemen walking their beats, patrolling the streets. Riding in patrol cars, equipped with radios.)
“Huwag ninyo na hanapin ang mga pulis sa presinto sapagkat kami ay nasa inyo na mga telepono. Dial 911, darating kami sa loob ng limang minuto. Yan ang aming pangako, gagawin namin yan,” he added.
(Don’t bother looking for the police at the station because we are already on your phones. Dial 911, and we will arrive within five minutes. That is our promise, and we will make it happen.)
Torre said they are targeting to lower police response time from five minutes to three minutes in the coming months.
He said he already instructed regional police commanders to cascade the implementation of the five-minute emergency response in their respective jurisdiction.
Torre held his first command conference Tuesday, June 3, where he reminded PNP officers that they should be fast, united and modern.
As part of his strategic directives, Torre emphasized the immediate need to ensure operational readiness and service efficiency across all police units.
He ordered the full implementation and improvement of radio communications systems in every police station nationwide to ensure uninterrupted coordination during emergencies.
The top cop also directed all units to conduct a thorough inventory and assessment of the functionality of radios and other essential police equipment.
He instructed field commanders to maximize the deployment and usage of all patrol vehicles to heighten police visibility and coverage in communities.
Starting Wednesday, the PNP will implement an eight-hour duty for police personnel to ensure the quality of police work.
“I will really impose the eight hours duty sa ating kapulisan. Bakit? Kasi tao rin ang mga yan, hindi makina yan at ayoko makakita ng pulis na tulog kasi kapag ginawa natin itong current na 12 hours duty, one day break for every week we are making them work at 72 hours per week yan na sobra-sobra naman sa ating mga kababayan na nagtatrabaho ng according to labor rules na 40 hours per week,” said Torre.
(I will really enforce the eight-hour duty for our police force. Why? Because they are human too, not machines, and I don’t want to see police officers sleeping on the job. If we continue with the current 12-hour duty and only one day off per week, we’re making them work 72 hours per week — that’s way too much compared to our fellow citizens who work according to labor rules, which is 40 hours per week.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)