PNP chief apologizes for jammed cellphone signals

Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, PNP chief (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), apologized to the public on Tuesday for the inconvenience caused by jammed cellphone signals during the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene.

“Para doon sa mga nagrereklamo, nakikiusap na rin kami, pasensya na. Sorry na lang at na-inconvenience kayo sa ginawa namin na pagputol ng signal,” Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.

[For those who are complaining, we appeal to you for patience and sorry that you were inconvenienced with what we did in jamming the signal.]

“But on a larger scale, sana tingnan rin ninyo na ito ay nagdudulot ng isang napakaganda at napaka-peaceful, very safe celebration ng Traslacion,” he added.

[But on a larger scale, we hope that you see that this brought a peaceful and very safe celebration of the Traslacion.]

“Sorry na po kung marami silang transaction na naunsyami. Marami silang mga business transactions na nasira dahil sa weakness ng signal ng apektado[ng area],” Dela Rosa said.

[Sorry if they have transactions that were canceled, business transactions that bogged down because of the weakness of the signal in the areas affected.]

Director Oscar Albayalde, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said they did not receive any complaints as the PNP had earlier informed the public of the signal jamming.

“Isa yan sa ating preemptive measure, ayaw nating mag-take for granted dito,” Albayalde said.

[It’s one of our preemptive measures, we do not want to take [our safety] for granted.]

“Kahit wala tayong nakukuhang threat or whatsoever, at least sa isang punto, less na tayo dun sa threat,” he added.

[Even though we did not get any threat or whatsoever, at least at one point, we eliminated one threat.]

Albayalde pointed out that cellphones could be used for detonating improvised explosive devices.

He said signal jamming would also be implemented in next year’s procession.

Starting 5 a.m. on Tuesday, cellular networks Smart and Globe jammed signals around the one-kilometer radius of the procession in Manila, as well as several areas in Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, and other neighboring areas. /atm