No nationwide alert during Lent

The second ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) official sees no reason to place police nationwide on full alert during the Holy Week since there is no imminent threat to national security.

"There is no need to raise the alert status," said Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., PNP deputy chief for administration.

"Everything is under control and there is no apparent terror threat. There are no plans (because) there’s no ground, no imminent (threat)."

Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Garcia, Directorate for Operations chief, said police have not monitored any specific terror threat in connection with the Holy Week from April 1 to 7.

"There is no specific threat, but we have to prepare for any eventuality," he said.

Garcia said the PNP has already drawn up security plans to thwart rebel attacks.

As part of security measures, more than 50 percent of the 119,000 PNP can respond to any eventuality, he added.

Garcia said the security plans cover the Holy Week, particularly security in churches where people usually converge as part of the Catholic tradition during the Lenten season.

All 198 new graduates of the PNP Academy who recently joined the police force will be deployed in Metro Manila to help maintain peace and order during Holy Week, he added.

Meanwhile, security at the Manila Domestic Airport was tightened yesterday, with bomb sniffing dogs regularly patrolling the terminal, in the face of increased passenger traffic to the provinces because of the Holy Week break. – With Michael Punongbayan