PNP launches ‘Sky Police’

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmen will not only be securing the land and waters of the country but the air as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched the "Sky Police" Tuesday.

The PNP presented to the public the three helicopters which will be utilized by the air unit from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and PNP Special Action Force (SAF).

To Deputy Director General Perfecto Palad, the PNP deputy chief for administration, the launch of the "Sky Police" would help in transforming the police force into "a more capable, effective and credible police organization."

"Hindi lamang sa lansangan at sa dagat mararamdaman ang kapulisan kung hindi ay sa himpapawid na rin (The force of the police will not only be felt on the country's land and seas but also in the air)," said Palad.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo stated that building the capabilities of the PNP is integral in its development. "Given the limitations of the budget that we have this year, it might be good to look at the opportunity from what we have."

The Sky Police, according to Robredo would add to the services of the police to its constituents. He added however, that policing is a community effort which will not succeed without the support of the private sector and regular individuals.

"This is not ningas cogon," Robredo told reporters during an interview stressing that "from here on, the Sky Police will be a fixture in police operations."

The choppers, said Robredo, would fly four hours each day and would be based at the hangar in NCRPO. He added that the choppers would also be used in solving car theft incidents along with motorcycles and other vehicles to be deployed to such operations.

The three Robinson R44 Raven II Police Helicopters, worth P104.9 million, were acquired during the term of former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa.

According to Senior Superintendent Joselito Salido, head of the Task Force Sky Police and Air Unit Commander of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF), their 48-strong air unit utilizes and maintains three Robinson R44 choppers equipped with a clear forward infrared camera which can zoom in up to 50 meters. The camera also uses thermal imaging to check areas of Metro Manila being monitored from the air, said Salido.

The choppers will only fly up to 300 feet above Metro Manila, added Salido. The forward infrared camera can be used "if we have incidents, accidents, hot pursuit operations." Officers using the choppers will give information to the troops on the ground so they can easily catch up, he explained.

Salido also said that using the choppers four hours a day in a month's time will need 500 thousand pesos; a chopper will use 2,000 liters of fuel a day. "Anyway only one chopper will fly a day," he revealed, "alternate, isa tambay isa lilipad (two choppers will be used in an alternate manner; while one flies, the other is on standby)."

The choppers can use speed up to 120 knots but "we do not go beyond that speed, especially in Metro Manila, we only fly 80 to 90 otherwise we are too fast," said Salido.

One of the pilots in command Vince Bangwa stated that the helicopters can stay in the air for three hours. Salido explained that two helicopters will be circling Metro Manila alternately, two hours in the morning and the afternoon.

Palad urged the members of the Special Action Force and NCRPO air units to play active roles and "be committed in this noble undertaking." (report from Karen Boncocan, Inquirer.net)