Almost 150K cops, force multipliers secure first day of classes – PNP

MANILA, Philippines – Almost 150,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other force multipliers were deployed to secure the opening of classes on Monday, PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde said.

Albayalde said the 149,484 personnel were deployed to different areas nationwide including police assistance desks near the schools, where almost 27.2 million students will flock for the opening of School Year 2019 to 2020.

READ: Back to school for 27.2 million students; DepEd vows improvements

“As of this time, everything is going on smoothly. ‘Yung ating mga pulis ay on their respective places of deployment, and as of this time wala tayong nakukuha na report [of a threat or] whatsoever,” the PNP chief said in a press briefing.

(As of this time, everything is going smoothly. Our police are at their respective places of deployment, and as of this time we have not received any report [of a threat].)

This was a development to the earlier statement of the PNP which said 120,000 police officers were deployed for the opening of classes.

“This includes our stakeholders, kagaya ng (like) force multipliers, kaya naging 140,000 mahigit (that’s why it became over 140,000),” Albayalde said.

Albayalde meanwhile urged parents of students to report cases of cyberbullying to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or to the nearest police stations in their areas.

He also assured that other operations of the PNP, including the fight against illegal drugs, continue even as police officers secure the opening of classes nationwide. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)