MANILA -- A total of 32,637 police personnel will man 4,546 Police Assistance Centers along major thoroughfares, travel routes, and sea, air and land transportation terminals during the summer holidays, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.
In a statement, the PNP said its chief, Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, placed the entire 180,000-strong police force on full alert to ensure the availability of personnel and other resources to respond to contingencies.
In Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office has deployed 11,871 police officers to secure all vital infrastructure, convergence points, and commercial centers for the entire duration of the Lenten Season.
The PNP Directorate for Operations has monitored seven emergency incidents nationwide as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, involving five drowning incidents, a vehicular accident, and a sea mishap in the Caraga region.
Dela Rosa has instructed all Police Regional Offices to implement target-hardening measures against criminality, illegal drugs, and terrorism this Lenten and summer season.
“There has been no validated report of terrorist threats in Metro Manila while security forces and the intelligence network are continuously monitoring and doing their jobs,” he said.
The PNP has assured the public that sufficient units are on standby, ready to respond to any situation and act on contingencies.
For his part, Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año assured that security preparations for possible incidents on the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines' armed wing, the New People's Army (CPP-NPA), have been readied.
The NPA was formed by Bernabe Buscayno and Lucio Manlapaz on March 29, 1969. Government estimates place the enemy's strength at about 3,000 rebels as of 2015.
"We will make sure that vulnerable targets are reinforced. Our police force is alert and we are asking our countrymen to help us. If you see something suspicious, immediately report to the nearest police station and we will make the appropriate action," Año said. (PNA)
