The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now on full alert as part of tightened security measures for the holiday season.
In a statement Friday, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the measure seeks to make the holiday season meaningful, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
Under the full alert status, all police personnel will be on standby and ready to be deployed. All work leave or day-offs will also be canceled while intensified checkpoint operations and patrols would be implemented.
Azurin also directed all PNP unit commanders to make the necessary adjustments in the deployment of foot and mobile patrol to cope with large crowds gathering and parties, along with extended mall hours, and operation of night markets, and food parks during the holiday season.
“In addition to their regular duties, these police officers play a crucial role in maintaining order and helping prevent crime during this time as they may also be called upon to provide traffic control, respond to emergencies, and assist with crowd management at events,” said Azurin.
During the nine-day dawn Masses which started on Friday, the PNP will mobilize police beat patrol and mobile patrol elements in the vicinity of Catholic churches and chapels hosting these religious activities.
“It is important for police to be present and visible during this Christmas season to ensure the safety and security of our communities,” Azurin said.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson, Col Jean Fajardo, said that no untoward incident was reported during the first day of the traditional “Simbang Gabi” nationwide.
“Masasabi natin na sa unang gabi hanggang kaninang madaling araw ng pagsisimula ng simbang gabi ng ating mga kababayang Katoliko ay naging pangkalahatang maayos naman at mapayapa. Wala po tayong nai-record na any untoward incident relating to Simbang Gabi (We can say that from the first night until this early morning of the start of the evening church of our Catholic countrymen, it was generally peaceful and orderly. We have not recorded any untoward incident relating to Simbang Gabi),” Fajardo said ina radio interview.
She added there a lot of people attended the mass because this is the first Christmas that will celebrate after the very critical period during the pandemic when people cannot go out.
“Dahil nung mga nakaraang dalawa taon ay halos wala nga tayong mga ganitong activities kaya ngayon ay dinagsa yung unang Simbang Gabi at makikita yan sa dami ng mga kababayan natin na maaga pa lamang po, in fact kagabi pa lang ay na-monitor natin may mga nauna na yung tinatawag na anticipated Mass ng gabi ay may mga na-monitor na tayo na mga kababayan natin na nauna na um-attend ng Simbang Gabi (That’s right because in the past two years we hardly had any activities like this, so now the first Simbang Gabi is crowded and you can see that in the number of our people who are early, in fact just last night we monitored some the so-called anticipated mass of the night has come first, we have been monitored who attended the Simbang Gabi first),” said Fajardo.
She added that based on their records, the PNP deployed close to 30,000 police officers in 3,700 places of worship.
Aside from mobile and foot patrols by police officers, police assistance desks were put up in these areas. (PNA)