Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo (center) is flanked by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. at the rollout of the BIDA Program in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Dec. 12, 2022. (Photo from the Facebook account of the NCRPO Public Information Office)
MANILA, Philippines — Over 13,000 personnel would be deployed to secure Metro Manila during the holiday season, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Tuesday.
NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, in a statement, guaranteed that the regional office and its five police districts — the Northern Police District, Quezon City Police District, Manila Police District, Eastern Police District, and Southern Police District — are ready to respond to any event where police presence may be needed.
The 13,000 NCRPO personnel would be placed in different key areas of convergence like places of worship, malls, public markets, major thoroughfares, transportation hubs and terminals.
Estomo also assured that churches would be guarded for the traditional dawn novena masses or Simbang Gabi, especially with people expected to flock to churches considering better COVID-19 management in 2022.
“This is an important Filipino tradition that we cannot afford to miss. We don’t have much fret on our security preparation and implementation due to our existing S.A.F.E. NCRPO strategy where our personnel are wide awake even during unholy hour of the day,” Estomo said.
“We are prepared to address any security issue that can possibly spoil this event,” he added.
Also, the NCRPO chief said Police Assistance Desks (PADs) have been established near churches so that officers can respond quicker.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Philippine shores in 2020, people especially in Metro Manila have either stayed up late or rose early in the morning due to night markets, sales, bazaars, and the traditional Simbang gabi.
However, the health crisis forced the government to place a stay at home policy, which left people celebrating virtually and at home.
While health experts are expecting a better Christmas celebration in 2022 due to the high number of vaccinated individuals along with the lower hospitalization rate, the Department of Health said that 2,000 cases per day during the latter part of the year is possible.
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