There is still time for local government units to convene their peace and order councils (POCs) to craft plans aimed at ensuring a peaceful and safe four-day long weekend encompassing All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said yesterday.
“Undas (All Saints’) is an important Filipino tradition. The DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) calls on mayors to convene their respective POCs to formulate a contingency plan on peace and order, and public safety,” Sueno said in a statement.
The agency called on mayors to mobilize and deploy law enforcers, barangay tanod and medical personnel in public and private cemeteries and memorial parks, and local and national roads, to assist the traveling public and motorists, and intensify effective traffic management.
He said additional security should also be deployed in critical areas within the city or municipality to prevent the entry and exit of lawless elements and to apprehend individuals violating rules.
Orderliness
The Secretary also reminded mayors to see to it that cleanliness and orderliness in cemeteries and other public places before, during and after the long weekend are maintained.
The DILG chief also advised the public to immediately report any unusual or untoward incident through hotlines: Itaga Mo Sa Bato App (the PNP Reporting Application in android phones), the National Emergency Hotline 911, and the National Citizens Complaint Hotline 8888.
Intelligence monitoring
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines ordered all military units to intensify their intelligence monitoring and security operations in support of the PNP during the long weekend.
“The AFP is one with our people in the peaceful and meaningful commemoration and visitation of our departed loved ones. We assure our people that your soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen are on their toes,” AFP chief of staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya said.
He appealed to the people for their their cooperation, vigilance and security consciousness.
In an instruction he issued on Oct. 24, Visaya directed the Unified Commands, the Joint Task Force NCR (JTF-NCR) and major service commanders to actively coordinate with their PNP counterparts through the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) in preparation for and in thwarting all possible threats that may arise during the holidays.
The JPSCC is a mechanism for joint operations with the PNP to address various security concerns.
“Vigilance and profiling of threat groups will be an edge of our security forces. Criminal and terrorist groups may take advantage of the gathering of people in bus terminals, air and sea ports. We will keep an eye on other places of convergence like cemeteries, especially during this long weekend,” Visaya said in a statement.
Vital establishments
In key cities around the country, Unified Commands and the JTF-NCR together with their counterparts in the PNP will employ measures to secure public facilities and other vital establishments.
The Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy, on the other hand, remain on alert and ready to augment additional troops to support the Unified Commands.
Visaya said the PNP and the AFP will man checkpoints in critical areas and these will be complemented by the deployment of canine units and explosive ordinance disposal team at possible entry and exit points in urban centers.
The JTF-NCR will also help provide assistance to motorists in major roads, particularly the South Luzon Expressway and North Luzon Expressway. Its current peace and development activities will be strengthened to assist citizens, especially in the most-visited cemeteries in Metro Manila.