The Philippine National Police will be on full alert status during the Holy Week, National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said.
A total of 11,600 policemen will be deployed to secure vital installations, bus terminals, jeepney stops, airports and seaports, churches and other pilgrimage sites, and even residential areas to ensure a peaceful and orderly Lenten season.
“On Holy Week, we are on full alert status. All applied leave of PNP personnel are canceled to ensure all PNP personnel are present. All posts are on duty to ensure a 100-percent attendance,” he said.
Full alert is the highest level of readiness in all police offices and units in Metro Manila.
Eleazar said the deployment will complement existing security measures such as checkpoints to deter criminal activities.
The PNP will likewise secure churches which will be visited by the Catholic faithful for the Visita Iglesia tradition.
He, however, clarified the NCRPO has yet to detect security threats in Metro Manila for the Holy Week.
“So far, we have not received information on threats but we remain alert for the Holy Week, especially in places of convergence, like churches for those doing Visita Iglesia. We will deploy police assistance desk in churches here in Metro Manila as part of our preparations,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar also appealed to the public to be alert and report to the police any suspicious person or behavior and any untoward incidents or crimes through the NCRPO hotline 0915-888-8181 or 0999-901-8181.