The Philippine National Police is deploying more than 75,000 policemen across the country as part of the security measures for the Holy Week.
Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesman, said the policemen are expected to be augmented by other law enforcement agencies and even barangay security forces.
“We have allocated these 75,000 policemen to ensure the safety of travelers going to provinces and those coming from provinces heading to Metro Manila and other urban areas,” said Carlos.
Carlos said the cops would be deployed in places of convergences, particularly churches and tourist spots, as well as man assistance desks and help centers on major thoroughfares.
But he said the deployment will not only focus on those who would travel but also their homes and communities which are expected to be abandoned by owners because of the Holy Week break.
“We will also be securing commercial establishments such as banks, jewelry shops, pawnshops, and other business establishments to deny criminal elements the opportunity to strike,” said Carlos.
Carlos said there is no serious threat in the country so far monitored by the intelligence community amid the arrest of two suspected terrorists in Taguig City.
But he said they will not take anything lightly, saying the deployment of thousands of policemen is a proof that they are doing everything to secure the public from any eventuality.
Thousands of policemen were also deployed to secure Manila and the southern part of Metro Manila this Holy Week.
MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said they have activated “Oplan: Sumvac” (summer vacation) and deployed 760 policemen to different Churches in Manila for Palm Sunday today.
The contingent is part of the 1,680 policemen who were assigned to security and counter-terrorism missions in Manila under Oplan Sumvac, Coronel said.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the MPD’s top priority is to maintain peace and order throughout the Holy Week and during the entire two-month summer holiday.
“We can’t let our guard down, we do not have such luxury when protecting the safety of our constituents,” the Manila mayor said amid an earlier confirmation by the Philippine National Police that a terrorist cell from the Maute Group in Lanao del Sur is operating in Metro Manila.
Uniformed and non-uniformed policemen, Coronel said, will be also be deployed to bus terminals, seaports such as Manila North and Manila South Harbors, and other areas of public convergence.
Coronel said there will be no traffic rerouting since Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are holidays.
The Southern Police District yesterday assured the public that all security plans in southern Metro Manila have been set as the Holy Week starts today.
Supt. Jenny Tecson, SPD chief information officer, said that more than 5,000 policemen have been deployed to secure the safety of the public who are expected to flock to bus terminals and the airport to go to the provinces for the Holy Week break and churches to observe Palm Sunday.
(Aaron B. Recuenco, Jaimie Rose A. Aberia, and Martin Sadongdong)
