Manila police on high alert

MANILA, Philippines – Following the bomb attacks in Brussels, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday mobilized the police, traffic and emergency rescue forces to ensure the safety of people who will flock to various churches in the city this Holy Week break.

He assured the public that all roads to and from Catholic churches in Manila are safe and ready for Visita Iglesia this week.

“As we sympathize with the people and the government of Belgium as well as with all peace-loving citizens of the world amid this horrific incident, we also exert all effort to ensure our own people’s safety and security, especially during our observance of Lent,” Estrada said.

Earlier, Estrada placed on high alert the 3,100-strong Manila Police District (MPD) and the 3,500 newly activated civilian anti-crime volunteers, also known as “barangay spies,” to secure the city during Holy Week.

“We expect that apart from the exodus of people from the city to their provinces, thousands among the Catholic faithful will also flock to Manila’s famed churches for spiritual pilgrimage and the traditional Visita Iglesia,” Estrada said.

Manila is home to some of the country’s pilgrim destinations for Visita Iglesia, which is an act of penance and expression of devotion. Among the Spanish-era churches in the city are the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin church both in Intramuros.

The Cathedral is among the five pilgrim churches for the Jubilee Year of Mercy while the San Agustin Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Also in Manila are the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, the Basílica Menor de San Sebastián in Plaza del Carmen, and the Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo.

Supt. Lucile Faycho, acting chief of Operations and Plans Division of the MPD, said public assistance desks would be placed at all “places of convergence” such as bus terminals, seaports, malls and churches.

She said the police would strictly enforce the “Discipline Zones” policy, which refers to traffic, vending and parking regulations.

“The police force is augmented by barangay watchmen as force multipliers to patrol residential areas,” Faycho said, adding that the Philippine Army also has a standby augmentation force of 3,100 men.

Estrada said people must not let their guard down in residential areas as “robbers do not take a Holy Week vacation.”

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Joel Pagdilao said yesterday that there is no terrorist threat in Metro Manila as he ordered an intensified intelligence gathering in all five police districts.

“We should not be caught with our pants down. We should coordinate with all sectors of society in getting wind of information that guide us in preventing terrorist groups and others from striking in Metro Manila,” Pagdilao said.

In line with Oplan Ligtas Semana Santa and Oplan Summer Vacation, he directed five district directors and 38 chiefs of police to intensify checkpoint operations and mobile and foot patrols, and to secure embassies, Light Railway and Metro Rail transit terminals, seaports and airports. – With Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde