AS IN PAST OBSERVANCES OF the Holy Week, the Eastern Police District (EPD) is on heightened alert, patrolling residential areas, churches and schools and looking out for opportunistic burglars.

During Lent, the EPD director said streets are deserted and most houses are empty, hence the need for greater police visibility in residential places to thwart burglaries.

?We will set up police assistance centers on main thoroughfares for motorists and (will provide) security in schools (that are holding their) graduation rites,? Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele, EPD director, said.

Mantele said the Catholic personnel of the EPD would also take part in Lenten activities.

On Wednesday and Thursday, policemen in the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Marikina will pray the Stations of the Cross, an activity he said would also involve routine unit and personnel visitation.

Mantele said the eastern part of Metro Manila, having no major terminals, typically observes the Lenten season quietly and peacefully but he assured the public that the police would remain vigilant in keeping the peace.

In Manila, Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered the police and barangay officials to conduct more patrols during Holy Week to protect homeowners against burglars.

In a statement, Lim said thieves usually operate during Holy Week when a lot of the city?s residents go home to their provinces, leaving their houses unattended.

He urged Manileños to make sure to lock their homes and secure these against intruders before they go on vacation.

Lim said the visibility of barangay watchmen and policemen was important to deter criminals from preying on unattended homes.

?Patrols would discourage thieves from burglarizing houses which have been left by their owners,? he said.