14,000 cops deployed for Undas in Calabarzon, Mimorapa

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  —  More than 14,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure public order during the observance of All Saints’ and Souls’ Days in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).

Starting today until Saturday, police officers will be deployed in cemeteries, train stations, seaports as well as bus and jeepney terminals.

The provincial and city police offices have been ordered to set up assistance centers and conduct foot patrol, according to Superintendents Chitadel Gaoiran and Imelda Tolentino, spokespersons for Calabarzon and Mimaropa police, respectively.

Personnel of the Highway Patrol Group will be deployed along Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Laguna, Southern Tagalog Access Road in Batangas and other major roads in Rizal and Quezon, Senior Superintendent Jonathan Calixto, HPG-Calabarzon director, said.

In Bulacan, acting police director Superintendent Chito Bersaluna said 924 police officers and 2,713 force multipliers would assist motorists and those who will visit cemeteries.

Bersaluna said police, motorist and traffic assistance desks will be put up in cemeteries, at bus terminals and along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Defective RFIDs

Meanwhile, operators of NLEX and SLEX were asked to ugrade their toll collection system to speed up the flow of traffic during the holidays.

Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay party-list cited defective and malfunctioning radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers. 

“The RFID system should ensure the smooth flow of traffic along our expressways,” Atienza said. 

“We are paying premium rates with the expectation that we will have a more comfortable and hassle-free travel... It looks like our expressways are becoming our new EDSA because we have inferior tollgate systems,” he pointed out.  – Jess Diaz, Gerry Lee Gorit