MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila’s business and financial hub needs more police.

In a letter to the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s top cop, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay said “the current size of our police force is grossly inadequate to provide security and protection for a highly urbanized city like Makati.”

Binay told PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima that the city’s 560 personnel is simply not enough. The mayor said the city’s night population of over half a million balloons to 4 million during the day because of transient residents – students, workers, tourists, and shoppers.

The increase puts the daytime police to population ratio at 1 policeman for every 10,714 people, said Binay.

The PNP reported a surge in crime during the first 5 months of 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. Of 289,198 reported crime incidents, almost a fourth happened in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Most incidents in NCR were tallied by the Southern Police District, which covers the city of Makati.

Makati’s police chief, Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban himself admitted his personnel was not enough to prevent petty crimes. Binay’s letter came after the mayor got complaints from residents about “rampant criminality” in the city: bag snatching and hold-ups in broad daylight.

In a statement, Binay said he hoped for a positive response from Purisima. For 2014, the Makati City government allocated P107.3 million for the Makati Police Department, covering monthly allowances and “fringe benefits” for senior police officers and rank-and-file personnel.

The figure also covers the acquisition of vehicles and other equipment. – Rappler.com