PNP still on full alert as vacationers return to work

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila and Mindanao remain on full alert while Visayas and the rest of Luzon are on heightened alert as thousands of vacationers have started coming back to work in the National Capital Region (NCR) since yesterday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima also ordered policemen to remain ready to provide assistance to the public and improve anti-crime efforts.

“We will remain on alert until we see it necessary to ensure order and safety of the general public,” said Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the office of the PNP chief.

Mayor said the PNP National Operations Center has monitored the influx of people returning to Metro Manila from provinces north and south, so an appropriate number of policemen remain in the field.

He also said that regional directors have the prerogative to upgrade or downgrade the alert level, depending on the situation prevailing in their areas of jurisdiction.

Purisima placed the entire PNP on heightened alert before the holidays to improve security measures to ensure a hassle-free yuletide season.

With the heightened alert status, Purisima said at least 50 percent of the police force in every unit must be available for deployment.

The heightened alert also means cancellation of leaves and absences of all 148,000 uniformed policemen to make sure there would be personnel available for deployment.