Police forces in Metro Manila and the nearby two regions were placed on Monday under highest security alert status as part of the security measures for the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the full alert status took effect at 8 a.m. on Monday morning and will last until December 14.
Aside from Metro Manila, also placed under full alert status are police forces in Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).
National Support Units like the Highway Patrol Group, Special Action Force and Maritime Group were also placed under full alert.
“All police regional offices and national administrative units will be on heightened alert status,” said Banac.
Full alert means suspension of all leaves and day-offs to ensure availability of all police personnel while heightened alert mandates that at least 50 percent of policemen must be present and ready for deployment.
At least 27,000 policemen will be deployed in sports venues and billeting areas of athletes and other delegates for the SEA Games.
In Metro Manila where 19 games would be held, almost 16,000 cops will be deployed.
Several games will also be held in Central Luzon and CALABARZON.
Among the deployment were from the HPG which will deploy 101 motorcycle-riding cops and mobile units to secure roads and ease traffic.
Athletes and other delegates started arriving in the country as early as the weekend.
The government is currently under fire for what critics describe as sloppy preparations that led to billeting woes of foreign and local athletes. (Aaron Recuenco)
