Over 40,000 police officers to secure Yuletide season

MANILA, Philippines — More than 40,000 police officers are dispatched to secure the country during the Yuletide season, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, said the security deployment is part of their preparations under Oplan Ligtas Paskuhan for this year.

“Our proactice measures, particularly in places of public convergence, continue,” Fajardo said in a news briefing at Camp Crame, referring to malls, churches, transportation hubs and tourist destinations.

Even if the PNP has not monitored any serious threat, she added, the PNP is maintaining its aggressive stance to prevent terrorist groups and other lawless elements from sowing chaos during Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities.

Col. Villamor Tuliao, Eastern Police District chief, said the EPD is deploying 1,665 of its personnel. The EPD is in charge of security in Pasig, Marikina, Mandaluyong and San Juan cities.

“It is our mandate to perform our jobs with strict observance of the rule of law and respect for human rights,” Tuliao said in a statement.

As part of its security measures, the PNP will go on heightened alert from Dec. 15, a day before the start of the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi masses, until Jan. 10 next year.

All leaves are canceled during the period, except for emergency cases, to ensure the availability of police officers.

Among the activities the PNP will monitor is the celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ founding anniversary on Dec. 26, for possible attacks by the CPP’s armed component, the New People’s Army.

Fajardo said PNP maneuver forces, such as the Special Action Force, will augment police stations that are vulnerable to attacks by communist rebels.