3,000 Holy Week cops to be deployed

Expecting a heavy influx of Metro Manila residents to the provinces during Holy Week, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is set to deploy at least 3,000 policemen to secure churches, subdivisions, commercial centers and government installations to go after petty criminals.

With the weakening terrorist threat, the NCRPO will now focus its manpower and resources against petty criminals like burglars and snatchers.

"Just like in the previous years, we would like to bring down the number of Akyat-Bahay cases in Metro Manila during the Holy Week," said Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., intelligence chief of the NCRPO.

Rojas said it is likely that NCRPO Director Vidal Querol would declare a full alert during the Holy Week for the peaceful and orderly observance of the Lenten season. "While our fellow Filipinos are enjoying their Holy Week vacation, the NCRPO personnel would be working to make sure that petty criminals do not take advantage of the situation," Rojas said.

Under Oplan Semana Santa, uniformed policemen would be deployed to bus terminals, seaports and airports, churches, commercial centers, and routes going to tourist spots like Baguio City and Tagaytay.

With the ending of classes at universities and colleges in Metro Manila last week, the NCRPO expects a heavy influx of students to go home to the provinces starting today. "We will be guarding bus terminals, and airports and seaports to prevent petty criminals from taking advantage of our students rushing to the provinces," Rojas said.

He said the terrorist threat is waning so the NCRPO can focus its attention on crime prevention.

The NCRPO intelligence chief said they would start fielding the 3,000 cops on Holy Monday.

"We will also be intensifying our foot and mobile patrols in subdivisions and commercial centers, especially in areas where the Akyat-Bahay and Acetylene Gang have operated in the past," he said.

The NCRPO intelligence chief said uniformed policemen would also guard churches

Rojas said radio volunteers would also be deployed to the North and South Expressways. – Non Alquitran