PNP readies security plan for Labor Day

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police said Monday it has laid out a security plan for Labor Day, which will be marked with protests by various workers’ groups, a PNP spokesman said.

Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and other concerned police units shall conduct security operations, civil disturbance management, and traffic management operations from Tuesday until Thursday in connection with this year’s celebration of Labor Day on May 1.

He also said the PNP National Headquarters has directed Police Regional Offices 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5 and Cordillera to send 200 personnel each as augmentation for NCRPO.

“There will be security deployment to maintain law and order and peaceful [and] successful celebration of Labor Day,” Cerbo said, adding that concerned PNP units will coordinate with group leaders planning to stage mass actions.

He also called on leaders to “police their own ranks.”

“We are monitoring possible groups especially threat groups…but so far I would say there’s nothing serious…,” Cerbo said.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced that the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, or the number coding scheme, will be lifted on Wednesday, a holiday.

“Number Coding is automatically lifted metrowide (no exceptions) during regular holidays such as Labor Day this May 1,” MMDA said in a Twitter post.

If the number rule would be in effect, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 5 and 6 are not allowed in major thoroughfares from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.