Police exhaust all measures to secure Holy Week

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 raised its alert status from heightened to full alert starting yesterday with 100 percent attendance of police personnel for the observance of the Holy Week.

PRO-7 Deputy Director for Operations, Sr. Supt. Conrad Capa, said all provincial and city directors in the region are directed to provide enough security in areas where the public is expected to converge.

“Every province, there should be an area supervisor especially it’s a long weekend,” said Capa, adding that everyone must take precautionary measures as “akyat-bahay” incidents are expected to rise.

The Philippine National Police headquarters warned the public not to post its location online during the occasion.

Cebu City Intelligence Branch head, Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, reiterated the warning, saying posting a person’s location might temp the criminals to take advantage, especially when he is on vacation.

 â€œNaghatag og statement ang PIO sa Crame nga dili angay i-post kung asa mo dapita kay ma-tempted ang mga lawless elements,” he explained.

He said most of the crimes that they monitored were technology related and posting a location online is like “inviting criminals.” He warned homeowners not to leave their houses.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director, Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac, said ground commanders are directed to patrol along national roads and enforce traffic rules as well as prohibit drinking of liquor in public places.

Police personnel have already been deployed in Bantayan Island and in Minglanilla town for the Easter Sunday.

“All personnel will be coming from the provincial headquarters and I think we no longer need an augmentation from the AFP,” Gillamac said.

Some personnel from police stations with minimal activities during the Lenten Season will also be deployed in other areas.

Sr. Supt. Anthony Bagarinao, Deputy Provincial Director for Operations, is the overall area supervisor in northern Cebu while Sr. Supt. Renato Malazarte, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration, will oversee the southern Cebu.

“Duna pud mi mga district supervisors kay dili mana namo maato tanan nga kami lang,” Bagarinao said.

Public Assistant Centers are also being set up to attend to the concerns of the public.

Sendoff ceremony is set tomorrow morning at the CPPO grounds. 

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama met yesterday with his department heads, city police director Noli Romana and station chiefs to discuss security preparations under Oplan Semana Santa.

“Just the same, be always vigilant. They should all be aware about the importance of knowing our role and mandate as public servants,” said Rama.

Rama ordered every station chief to deploy policemen for 24 hours starting Wednesday in places where devotees and tourists are expected to gather.

Rama further ordered the police to keep an eye on motorists who are not wearing helmets and drivers whose vehicles have no plate numbers.

“You apprehend them, bisan pulis pa ‘na sila or kinsa,” Rama pointed out.

The mayor also tasked the Department of Public Services to take charge of the mounting garbage after the occasion.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who was part of the meeting, also reminded the City Hall officials and the police to do their task as provided by the law.

Romana assured that they would do their best to make the Holy Week peaceful and orderly with the cooperation of the community.

The Parish Security Group, for its part, will put up help desks at church entrances starting Wednesday.

Alvin Santillana of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said they will also provide ambulances and medical groups at places where huge number of people are expected to gather on Good Friday’s Station of the Cross at Good Shepherd in Banawa and Tabor Hills in Talamban, among others.

“Let’s all do our role. We don’t like to be seeing on Monday discussing regrets,” Rama stressed.

As part of the “Oplan Semana Santa 2014,” CIB personnel and agents will be deployed on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in strategic locations within the city.

Santander said that he will deploy intelligence operatives and CIB agents at Good Shepherd in Banawa, Tabor Hills in Talamban, San Nicholas Church up to Guadalupe Church and in Poblacion, Pardo.

He said these personnel will help secure the observance of the Holy Week in the city.

Santander said all lapses last year will be corrected this year as far as implementation is concerned.

“Tanang sayop last year ato nang gi correct namo, unsa tong crime amo nang gi-jot down,” said Santander.

Santander said they will also set up Public Assistance Centers at sea ports, bus and V-hire terminals.

“At least dili na moadtog stations, nagpaduol nami nila,” he said. (FREEMAN)