SECURITY CHECK BEFORE THE EXODUS. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, General Oscar Albayalde talks to a father waiting for a bus to return to his hometown for a brief vacation this Lenten season. Abayalde on Wednesday (April 17, 2019) inspected preparations in bus terminals and airports to ensure security preparations ahead of the annual exodus of travelers for the Holy Week. (Photo by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday inspected preparations in bus terminals and airports to ensure security preparations ahead of the annual exodus of travelers for the Holy Week.
Albayalde, together with National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, inspected the Araneta Center Bus Terminal, Victory Liner bus terminal in Pasay City, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 and Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange to check on security measures being implemented.
So far, no untoward incident was reported but the influx of the commuters is expected on Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning, especially in NAIA, since “it is half day today,” Abayalde said.
The PNP chief also noticed that the travelers are now more disciplined and educated as no restricted item has been seized in bus terminals.
Albayalde also said that the police assistance desks/centers and other security personnel are all in place to ensure a smooth travel. He said the PNP is encouraging the public to observe precautions especially while travelling to various destinations.
Albayalde added “Ligtas Sumvac (Summer Vacation) 2019” will coordinate all police operational activities on road safety and motorist assistance, route security, traffic management, and anti-criminality along major travel routes, places of convergence, and tourist destinations.
The PNP has deployed 91,000 cops nationwide "for route security target hardening, and security operations in places of convergence and transportation hubs,” the PNP chief said.
Albayalde said they have yet to detect security threats in the country for the Holy Week.
“Sa ngayon, wala tayong nakukuhang threat, whatsoever. Of course, kahit wala namang threat, kelangan always on alert and ang aming mga intelligence monitoring is in place, (As of today, we have not received any threat, whatsoever. Of course, even though there is no threat, we need to be always on alert and our intelligence monitoring is in place),” said Albayalde.
Albayalde said to ensure the safety of motorists and commuters this Holy Week, the PNP has put all its units on full alert in Metro Manila.
“Dito sa NCRPO, under full alert status. Sa iba naman na hindi talaga puntahan ng mga tourists natin, heightened alert lang. In all other regions lalo na yung maraming tourist destinations, they are in full alert status, (Here in NCRPO, under full alert status. In areas not frequented by tourists, it is only heightened alert. In all other regions, especially those with various tourist destinations, they are in full alert status,” he said.
Full alert means the highest level of readiness in all police offices and units and all personnel should be accounted for 100 percent. “All leaves are cancelled, except for those that are emergency in nature. All of our policemen are present in their different offices or stations,” Abayalde said.
For his part, Eleazar said he ordered the five police districts in the metropolis to tighten security around airports, seaports, vital government and private installations as well as places of convergence during this Holy Week.
The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Northern Police District, Southern Police District, and Eastern Police District.
He said policemen will complement existing security measures such as checkpoints to deter criminals' activities.
Eleazar also said police will secure churches which will be visited by Catholic faithful for the traditional “Visita Iglesia”.
Eleazar appealed to the public to be alert and report to the police any suspicious person or behavior and any untoward incidents or crimes through the PIO NCRPO Facebook Page@PIONCRPO2019; twitter@pioncrpo2019; and Isumbong Mo Sa Team NCRPO hotlines 0999-901-8181 or 0915-888-8181. (PNA)
