Metro police leaves cancelled as NCRPO secures public during holidays

Philippine National Police (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA — Metro Manila policemen’s vacation leaves have been canceled so they could attend to keeping the streets and public places safe during the holiday period, the National Capital Region Police Office said on Sunday.

NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde said he declared the “no-break policy” starting Sunday for Metro Manila lawmen after a briefing with the five police district directors under his command.

“This is to ensure the security of the public this holiday season. We ask the public to report any concerns, events, or activities that need our presence,” Albayalde said in a statement.

He said the NCRPO, together with all police regional offices nationwide, would have their Christmas celebrations on Monday (Dec. 19) so that on the busiest days of Christmas and New Year breaks, the policemen could focus on securing the people.

In the previous years, the practice in the NCRPO is to have half of its personnel take leaves during Christmas and the other half during the New Year.

In a radio interview, Albayalde said the leave cancellations might extend to January, during the holding of the Miss Universe pageant, as well as important religious gatherings such as the Sto. Niño festivities and the Black Nazarene procession in Metro Manila.

“That is why more or less we will not have a break [in January] so that we can make sure that our personnel are 100-percent deployed,” he said.

Albayalde said that during the holidays, the police would focus on shopping centers and churches, and in setting up checkpoints.

The NCRPO chief said in Manila’s Divisoria shopping district, he said about 100 additional policemen were deployed to ensure public safety. Big churches such as those in Quiapo, Manila and Baclaran, Parañaque City would have 10 additional policemen during the “Simbang Gabi” (dawn novena mass). There are also checkpoints in the Manila’s Binondo district or Chinatown to prevent reported kidnapping incidents.

To safeguard travelers’ safety, Albayalde said the NCRPO would set up within these week police assistance desks in provincial bus terminals in Manila, Pasay City and Quezon City.

The police official also called on Metro Manila residents to be vigilant, cautious and observant to help cops prevent terror attacks.

The country remains under a terror threat level 3, according to the Philippine National Police.  SFM