Keeping Lenten traditions alive, local artists in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City, work on paper maché images depicting biblical scenes of the life and passion of Jesus Christ, this one about Palm Sunday, in time for Holy Week. Photo taken on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Marianne Bermudez/Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — For this year’s observance of Holy Week and Ramadan, 180,000 security personnel from various law enforcement agencies have been deployed nationwide to ensure public safety, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Holy Week began on March 24, while the holy month of Ramadan started on March 12.
Of the 180,000 security personnel, the PNP said 52,000 police officers will patrol key locations such as highways, ports, terminals, major convergence areas, churches, and tourist destinations.
“As of now, we have not received any specific threats. However, we maintain a vigilant stance. Our commitment extends to ensuring the safety and security of our Catholic and Muslim brothers and sisters during this significant period of religious devotion,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.
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“While our deployment has been extensive, we are attentive to specific areas that could benefit from increased police visibility. One crucial aspect is augmenting our K9 units, as these units play a vital role in detecting potential threats and bolstering overall security measures, particularly in densely populated public areas,” he added.
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Earlier, the PNP said 17,499 of the 52,000 police officers will be deployed to “places of convergence” like malls and transport terminals, while 12,640 will be assigned to secure places of worship.
Major thoroughfares nationwide will be secured by 9,789 police officers, 3,854 will watch over ports, and 8,491 will serve as a standby support force at the PNP headquarters in Quezon City.
The PNP further disclosed the utilization of 427 police service dogs to inspect transport terminals during the period in response to numerous bomb threats received by various government agencies last month.