UST SAW a significant drop in petty crime incidents this academic year, assessing the rising rate seen in previous years.
Records from the UST Security Office showed only two reports of theft filed in Academic Year (AY) 2015-2016 compared with eight cases in AY 2014-2015 and 15 cases in AY 2013-2014.
UST Security Chief Joseph Badinas attributed this to new security procedures such as assigning personnel in plain clothes to blend in with crowds and monitor public places like the Santisimo Rosario Church, UST Hospital and the Multi-Deck Parking Building.
Badinas explained how “constant communication” with government agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and coordination with barangays around UST helped reduce petty crimes.
“‘Yung nangyayaring krimen, ina-address namin sa kanila (PNP) para tulong-tulong ‘yung security natin at saka sila. Kapag may reported crime sa amin, ina-address namin immediately kung saan concerned na department ‘yun,” he said.
More visible security measures
To further enhance campus security, a police outpost was opened by the PNP last June 14 outside UST Gate 3, Badinas said.
“Anytime na kailangan ng police assistance, madali lang [sila] lapitan. Ang magbe-benefit kasi talaga dito ay ‘yung four corners ng UST,” he said in a previous report by the Varsitarian.
In 2013, UST and partner communities composed of schools, business establishments, the PNP and barangay patrols formed a citizen’s watchdog group called the Sampaloc-UST Neighborhood Watch (SUN Watch), which aims to improve safety and security in and around the campus.
“This is really an effort to tone down the crimes around the [University]. Probably we’ll see the effect in the near future,” Office of Student Affairs Director Evelyn Songco said in a phone interview.
