Manila police on red alert for opening of classes

The Western Police District (WPD) has been placed anew on full alert in preparation for the opening of classes next Monday.

Operatives of the WPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and mobile patrol unit, complimented by plainclothes policemen, will be deployed in Manila’s University Belt and the Filipino-Chinese community in Binondo, according to WPD spokesman Chief Inspector Gerry Agunod.

The preparation, dubbed "Oplan Balik Aral," will secure returning students from criminal gangs and kidnappers which usually become active during school openings, Agunod said.

The areas that will be under close watch by uniformed and plainclothes policemen are the C.M. Recto Avenue, Morayta, Mendiola, España Boulevard, Lacson Avenue, and the Chinese schools in Binondo.

Police will also be deployed in bus terminals and at pier zones to secure students who will be returning to the city during the week.

Sekretas (undercover cops) and operatives of the WPD’s Theft and Robbery section will also maintain its full visibility to thwart holduppers, con artists and muggers from doing their illegal activities. Suspicious persons shall be accosted and their background checked for previous police records.

"This preparation is a standard operating procedure (SOP) of the WPD during school openings. We hope to duplicate last year’s peaceful school opening," Agunod said.

Some 500 specially trained policemen were likewise tapped by the WPD to respond to any form of mass action and destabilization reportedly planned by followers of losing candidates in the last elections.

Agunod said Task Force Antabay will complement the station’s police force and shall be mobilized in areas of immediate concern within the city. The group is composed of selected personnel from the WPD’s anti-civil disturbance unit, Detective Bureau, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the mobile patrol.

"We advised the public to remain calm at the sight of mass mobilization of policemen in their areas. Task Force Antabay is having continuous "dry-run" to measure its response time," Agunod said.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said the task force will operate in the city until all winning candidates in the national and local elections are proclaimed.