4K cops for ‘Undas’
MANILA -- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has deployed 4,233 policemen to ensure a peaceful and orderly commemoration of the All Saints and All Soul’s days.
Aside from the policemen, NCRPO acting chief, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said Tuesday that two companies of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Regional Mobile Force Battalion would be on standby.
He said the deployment of NCRPO personnel will serve as augmentation in the conduct of preventive patrol operations, anti-criminality and anti-drug campaigns.
Police assistance desks (PADs) will also be set up to guide commuters and prevent criminals from taking advantage of the crowd, the NCRPO chief said.
“The preparation (for Undas) is already template based on our discussion, we have identified 118 cemeteries, columbariums in the whole NCR. The arrangement is the MPD (Manila Police District) will provide security in the North Cemetery, the biggest cemetery in Metro Manila then will deploy cops and police desk in bus terminals, seaports, to alert the people if they need police assistance, and will also be fielding cops in other cemeteries,” Sinas told reporters.
He ordered all police chiefs in the metropolis to harness the support of their force multipliers including “Bantay-Bayan” volunteers, barangay peacekeeping action teams and security personnel, private security guards and nongovernmental organizations in keeping All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day as peaceful as possible.
He said no threat has been detected but will declare full alert in Metro Manila on Wednesday, the expected start of exodus of people to the provinces.
He said police assistance centers have been established inside and outside cemeteries and memorial parks to keep peace and order while additional uniformed and plainclothes officers have been deployed in different bus stations, commercial centers and the Metro Railway Transit and the Light Rail Transit to protect the public.
Since the occasion is a long weekend, the NCRPO
chief also reminded Metro Manila residents who are leaving for the provinces to see to it that their houses are properly locked and secured from burglars, fire and even leaking liquefied gas tanks and faucets. (PNA)