The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy more than 14,000 policemen to secure the traditional Simbang Gabi (night masses) and the Christmas and New Year festivities across Metro Manila.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin announced that all police units in the region are on heightened alert as part of the comprehensive security measures for the holiday season.
He added that police assistance desks will be set up in select shopping malls, while uniformed personnel will also be assigned to all stations of the LRT and MRT to ensure public safety and order.
As to the deployment of policemen to LRT and MRT stations, Aberin said they plan to provide at least two policemen per stations to augment Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
Aberin said security assessment will still be conducted in the next few days to determine if there is a need to go on highest security alert status.
He, however, said the deployment of policemen will step up starting Dec. 16, or the start of the “Simbang Gabi”.
The priority of the deployment during “Simbang Gabi”, according to Aberin, are churches and all the roads leading to and from them, from the evening to dawn.
While the NCRPO has not received any serious threat, Aberin said they will not lower guard and vowed to continue intensifying police presence and intelligence-monitoring in coordination with the military and the intelligence community. (Aaron Recuenco)
