Military K-9 squads beef up port security

The military‘s elite K-9 security force will be deployed in Metro Manila as part of the security realignment to be enforced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the Holy Week break.

Made up of highly-trained bomb sniffing dogs, the K-9 units will be tasked to conduct paneling, clearing security operations in highly vulnerable areas such as the north and south harbor along with the airports.

"The NCRCom is currently implementing Oplan Kwaresma and they have dispatched K-9 units to clear areas where bombs might be placed," Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, AFP public information chief, said.

Complementing the K-9 units are the military elements from Joint Special Operations Group’s Explosives Ordnance Demolition Team, which have been placed under the operation control of the NCRCom.

Maj. Erwin Lamson, NCRCom spokesman, said composite teams from the Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have also launched security plan "Oplan Paglalayag."

Lamson said Oplan Paglalayag aims at securing at least 35 passenger vessels leaving various ports of Manila daily to the provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Two teams of K-9 units from the JSOG will be deployed, along with specialized military, police and PCG teams, to check on passengers and will be aboard each vessel leaving Metro Manila.

PCG commandant Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan said Manila-based ships bound for the provinces will have two PCG men, two soldiers and two policemen to go with the shipping company’s own security men. — Jaime Laude, Jose Aravilla