No Holy Week, summer security threats monitored, so far – PNP

MANILA, Philippines – No security threats during the Holy Week have been monitored or received, so far, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday.

“Sa ngayon, wala tayong nakukuha, wala tayong nakukuhang threat whatsoever. Of course, kahit wala namang threat, kelangan always on alert and aming mga intelligence monitoring is in place (Currently, we have not monitored or received security threats. Still, we are on alert, including our intelligence gathering units),” Albayalde told reporters after his inspection at Araneta Center bus terminals in Quezon City.

Albayalde said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and other regions with key tourist destinations are on full alert status, while other regions and areas are under heightened alert status.

“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 on full alert status,” he said.

Albayalde explained that full alert status means all police personnel should be 100-percent prepared for untoward incidents and that all police officers must be present in different offices and stations.

Implementation of full alert status will be until the end of Holy Week, Albayalde said.

Tourist police

Meanwhile, Albayalde said the PNP is likewise focusing on improving security plans in tourist destinations where visitors are expected to converge during the Holy Week and summer vacation season.

“Ang isang concern yung pupuntahan ng mga tourists whether local or foreign, mga mlalaking cathedrals, mga beaches. I am sure mapupuno ito (Tourist destinations such as cathedrals, and beaches will be filled with people, that is our concern),” said Albayalde.

Hence, Albayalde said they have assigned tourist police officers – trained by the Department of Tourism (DOT) – to secure tourist spots.

“Kaya ito what we did in preparation of the Sumvac, Meron tayong mga tourist police being trained by the DOT,” Albayalde said.

“Hindi kasi lahat ng pulis naassign na tourist police but we specifically deployed tourist police that are trained by the DOT. They have different uniforms,” he added. /gsg