MANILA, Philippines—It’s all systems go for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s security measures in preparation for the influx of people at cemeteries, terminals, and churches as All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day observation nears.
Additional 41,602 police personnel will be deployed to convergence areas nationwide as the entire PNP force enters full alert on October 30 as part of its “Ligtas Undas” security plan.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said the PNP’s operation plan (Oplan) will be effective until Nov. 3, when people are expected to go back from their furlough.
As the full alert starts on Thursday, Roxas said 4,034 additional policemen will be sent in each region across the country.
“All leaves will be canceled. Extended hours for PNP personnel in all stations will be observed. Their usual 8 to 12 hours duty will have additional 50-percent duty for increased police presence,” Roxas said.
A man pays his respects to a departed relative at Barangka public cemetery in Marikina City in the dead of night. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
PNP’s “maneuver units,” such as the special action forces, regional public safety battalions, and provincial public safety companies, will be on standby for deployment 24/7.
Aside from policemen, the Department of Interior and Local Government also tapped civilian volunteers, radio communication groups and barangay (village) peacekeeping action teams to serve as force multipliers.
The key areas include cemeteries, places of worship, vital installations, tourist destinations, air and sea ports, bus terminals, and all transportation hubs nationwide.
‘Oplan Kaluluwa’
In Metro Manila, some 2,456 MMDA traffic enforcers, medical teams, clean-up crews will be sent in all cemeteries and memorial parks.
The MMDA enforcers will aid 4,278 National Capital Region Police Office personnel with 2,595 concentrated in cemeteries, 279 in bus terminals, 606 in vital installations, 217 in places of worship, 200 in major tourist destinations, 158 in route security, 100 in malls, 61 in airports, and eight in sea ports.
According to MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, the MMDA’s “Oplan Kaluluwa” has been ironed out by the agency in cooperation with the metropolis’ 16 cities and municipality.
Tolentino said the contingency plan will be effective starting October 27 at 2 p.m. until November 3 at 8 p.m.
Anticipating the surge of bus passengers in terminals, enforcers were tasked to man terminals including those in Araneta Center, Cubao and in Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City; Edsa terminals in Cubao, Pasay, and Balintawak; Dangwa in Sampaloc, Manila, and in Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal in Paranaque City.
Fielded in major roads and sidewalks to oversee traffic safety are roving teams from the MMDA’s Traffic Discipline Office.
Ambulances and Public Assistance Center tents for emergency medical services will be set up at the four major cemeteries–Manila South Cemetery, Manila North Cemetery, Loyola Memorial Park and Manila Memorial Park.
Ensuring maximum personnel deployment, Tolentino also reminded that enforcers must observe the “no day-off and no-absent” policy while the Oplan Kaluluwa is effective.
Preparing for the worst
In 2013, eight criminal incidents in the country were reported from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
According to Roxas, the PNP and other agencies are doing their best to prevent crime but they are also “preparing for the worst.”
“Hindi tayo nagpapabaya at patuloy na nakaalerto ang PNP,” he said.
(We are not get negligent and the PNP will be continuously on alert.)
Roxas said they have not monitored specific threat to date.
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