Tight security in ports, cemeteries for ‘Undas’ in Southern Luzon

BATANGAS CITY—When at the port here, don’t bring a bladed item, or you may not reach your destination.

Passengers at the Batangas International Port must undergo manual inspection, X-ray machine checking and K9 units inspection before boarding the ships or motorized bancas leaving the port.

Supt. Rajo Manito Opelanio of the Batangas police also asked passengers not to carry too many luggage, bladed weapons and combustible materials as they might be held at the port.

Security at the port and elsewhere in Southern Luzon has been very tight as police launched Oplan Ligtas Undas to secure thousands of passengers who flocked ports, airports and bus terminals to get to their hometowns for the 4-day break to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The Batangas port stood out as the only seaport in  Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) that has an elaborate security system, prompting Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas to describe it as the “most secured port” in the country.

Roxas on Friday inspected the facilities and the security measures being implemented by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime police and Maritime Authority at the port for the Oplan Ligtas Undas.

Lawyer Leopoldo Biscocho Jr. Roxas, PPA Batangas general manager, said Roxas was impressed with the preparation of the PPA in maintaining the security and comfort of passengers, and cleanliness of the port.

Biscocho said 64 CCTVs are installed in Phases 1 and 2 of Batangas port to closely monitor the safety and security of passengers.

The PPA is expecting at least 10,000 passengers  daily up to Oct. 31.

Capt. William Isaga, Coast Guard Batangas station commander, said one of Roxas’ instructions was the strict implementation of the no-overloading rule.

Isaga said no vessel would be cleared for shipping unless proper weight capacity is attained.

Trips from Batangas to Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, Romblon in Romblon and Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro are operational 24/7.

Motorized bancas going to Puerto Galera are authorized to travel only during daytime, he said.

Public assistance centers manned 24/7 with medical personnel and water stations were put up to attend to emergencies like health problems and peace and order.

Isaga said passengers should come early so as not to avoid hassle because of thorough inspection required prior to boarding and departure of vessels from the port.

In Bicol, Senior Supt. Wilson Asueta, the region’s police spokesperson, said they would field additional personnel to support public assistance centers in various cemeteries, terminals, ports and highways.

Security checks would be strictly enforced in bus terminals and major seaports across the region, he added.

Thousands of policemen in the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions on Thursday were deployed to man ports, bus stations, major thoroughfares and roads leading to cemeteries in preparation for All Souls’ Day on Tuesday.

In Calabarzon, police were keeping a close watch on the Maharlika Highway that connects Manila to Southern Tagalog provinces and the Bicol region.

“Except for those assigned to perform administrative duties, all our policemen, including officials, are deployed outside to patrol in critical areas,” said Chief Supt. Gil Meneses, Calabarzon police director.

The region has about 9,900 policemen.

“Our target is to reduce by 30 to 50 percent the crime rates from last year, not only during All Souls’ Day season, but for the fourth quarter of the year. The number of crimes usually goes up during the “ber” months, but we want to challenge that,” he said.