The Philippine National Police launched yesterday a new text hotline that they’re calling “Itaga Mo sa Bato,” which is a Filipino expression that is loosely translated as, “cast my words in stone.”
The expression serves as a guarantee that a person will follow through on his promise or vow.
PNP chief director general Ronald dela Rosa signed a memorandum of agreement with Globe and Smart officials for the “Itaga Mo sa Bato” text hotline 2286. Incidentally, “Bato” also happens to be Dela Rosa’s nickname.
The Philippine Star reports, though, that Dela Rosa “initially rejected having a PNP program named after him” but then relented when it was pointed out that the nickname would make the program easy to recall.
http://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/09/06/1620870/pnp-launches-new-text-hotline
In a speech during the program’s launch, Dela Rosa remarked, “If ‘Itaga Mo sa Bato’ had been launched earlier, the Davao blast could have been prevented.”
Each text message to the “Itaga Mo sa Bato” hotline 2286 will cost PHP2.50. The PNP explained that the cost “is meant to prevent pranksters from taking advantage of the hotline.”
Chief inspector Mark Foncardas of the Police Community Relations Group then gave this tip those who will report to the hotline, “From the public, it will help us at least come up with more specific information where terrorists activities and other similar violent incidents happen.”
Meanwhile, PNP hotline 09178475757 and Text PNP 2920 are still active and can receive messages.
