MANILA, Philippines – Over 7,000 police officers will be deployed to secure schools and other places of convergence in Metro Manila for the opening of classes in June, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Major General Guillermo Eleazar said Tuesday.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Eleazar said among the 7,153 police officers to be deployed in the metropolis are 533 cops near private schools and 697 in the vicinity of public schools.
“We are all set for it (opening of classes),” Eleazar said.
The number of police officers to be deployed this year exceeded last year’s number by more than 2,000.
READ: NCRPO to deploy 5,000 cops for school opening
“Mas magandang mas marami (It’s better to have more police officers) to make the day more secure even if we don’t have any monitored threats,” Eleazar said.
A total of 2,074 police officers, meanwhile, will man 741 police assistance desks.
Data from the NCRPO showed that 627 police officers will also be assigned to Tactical Motorized Rider Units; 103 to Explosives Ordnance Disposal and K9 teams; 48 in bus terminals; 464 in Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit stations and other transport terminals, and 2607 as route security marshals in convergence points.
Aside from the police officers, another 8,627 force multipliers, composed of barangay tanods, security guards and personnel of non-government organizations, will also help secure the opening of classes, according to NCRPO. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)