INSPECTION. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (standing, 3rd from right) is joined by various government officials during an inspection at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange on Monday (March 25, 2024). The PNP has declared a heightened alert for the Holy Week to ensure the smooth and secure travel of passengers. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said Monday they have not monitored any security threats for the observance of the Holy Week.
This, as travelers are expected to flock to airports, bus terminals and seaports to spend the Holy Week long weekend.
"For the threat assessment so far, we are not receiving. We are also supporting our Muslim brothers in the observance of Ramadan, as we know this year, Ramadan coincided with the Holy Week. Except for problems like heavy traffic, there are no other security concerns," Acorda said on the sidelines of an inspection at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
He said the PNP has declared a heightened alert starting Monday and would deploy more than 52,000 policemen who will be augmented by more than 87,000 force multipliers from various government agencies.
Acorda was joined by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Don Artes during an inspection at the PITX.
Hundreds of passengers have started to arrive at the PITX on Monday to avoid traffic jams and travel delays which are expected by Holy Wednesday or Maundy Thursday.
Meanwhile, Abalos said police officers were also deployed to secure homes which would be left by travelers to prevent theft incidents.
"Huwag kayo mag-alalala, we have a very safe Semana Santa, sa lahat maski yung mga dadaanan nung mga sasakyan, nakadeploy hindi lamang rito, nakadeploy ang mga kapulisyahan sa mga pupuntahan niyo. Nakadeploy along the highways. Lahat yan nakakalat yan (Don't worry, we will have a very safe Holy Week even in major roads and thoroughfares. All of them are deployed. Our police officers are deployed in your destinations and even highways. All of them are deployed in various places)," the DILG chief said.
He said authorities are also on the lookout against fire incidents in place of convergence.
"Sa ngayon meron tayong dalawang fire trucks na nakatalaga palagi rito at ito ay merong 14 na crew. Bukod pa rito, meron kaming 25 na personnel sa bus station. Overall, ito ay 39 fire personnel. Para saan itong fire? Hindi lamang sa sunog ito, pati rin ito sa medical dahil sabi nila from 100,000, kung minsan nasa 200,000, andami na pasahero (For now, we have two fire trucks assigned here that have 14 crew members. Aside from that, we have 25 fire personnel at the bus station. Overall, we have 39 fire personnel. What are these fire personnel for? This not just for fire incidents, they can also respond to medical emergency. It's because we expect 100,000 to 200,000 passengers)," he added.
Homeowners told to secure homes
Meanwhile in Cebu City, the police advised residents to secure their homes before leaving for vacations or family gatherings.
Lt. Col. Janet Rafter, Cebu City police deputy chief for operations, said while force multipliers from the 80 barangays will help secure communities, it would still be best if household owners themselves would secure their premises before leaving.
“Let us also ensure the safety of our houses,” she told reporters, referring to unsafe practices such as unlocked doors and windows as well as unplugged appliances which may cause fire.
Some 300 cops will secure 33 Roman Catholic churches. (With a report from John Rey Saavedra/PNA)
