MANILA,Philippines — At least eight police officers were caught sleeping while on duty from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said yesterday.

Four of the police officers were from Makati while two each were from Valenzuela and Caloocan.

Upon taking over the NCRPO last month, Sinas formed a motorcycle-riding team to go after police officers playing golf during office hours and those drinking in bars.

However, no police officers were caught playing golf as of yesterday, said Sinas.

He said the Red Team did not wake up the police officers but only took pictures as evidence. The images were sent to their respective city police chiefs, whom Sinas said he ordered to conduct an investigation.

He said he changed the earlier practice of relieving police officers caught sleeping on the job because it would mean fewer lawmen available for deployment.