Security measures in place for Christmas season — AFP, PNP

Police and military officials reassured President Arroyo yesterday on their readiness to protect the people during the holiday season from terrorism, criminality and other threats to peace and order.

The President yesterday convened a joint command conference with the top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) where she received briefings on the security preparations for the holidays from military and police officials headed by AFP Gen. Dionisio Santiago and PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Emerging from the two-hour conference, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. told Palace reporters that the plans presented to the President in the area of internal security and public security will be implemented.

"The people will be celebrating Christmas and we have to make sure the people are protected and that the security arrangements are in place the way we did it last Nov. 1 and the other three-day holiday in November," Lina said, though refusing to go into details.

As interior secretary, he said that he could only speak for the PNP, which is under his department.

"As far as the PNP is concerned, we consider the continuing threats against the state as destabilizing, threats from the MILF ‘lost command’, from the Nur Misuari ‘breakaway group’, from the NPA, from other organized criminal syndicates. These are destabilizing elements. So we are always on guard against all these threats to our security," he explained.

Lina declined to say, however, if police and military intelligence authorities have reported any escalation of attacks especially by local insurgents when the communist New People’s Army (NPA) observes its founding anniversary this coming Dec. 26.

"The government will not take any chances," Lina stressed. "So whether there is a threat or not, we will continue to be prepared."

In a related development, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) announced that it is fielding its own personnel in all bus terminals this Christmas season to ensure that bus companies comply with the terms of their franchise contracts and the Public Service Act.

"There would be a big demand for transport facilities so we have to be prepared," DOTC Undersecretary Arturo Valdez said.

Under the franchise contract and the Public Service Act, operators of passenger vehicles are required to have terminals that are equipped with clean comfort rooms, proper ventilation and adequate waiting area for passengers.

Valdez said that bus owners are also now required to tighten security to forestall any attempt to sow terror during the holidays.

"We’ll be implementing programs, similar to those we had during the ‘All Souls’ Day’ celebration. Bags would have to be searched thoroughly before passengers would be allowed to enter buses. Security personnel in bus terminals should always be alert for any untoward incident," he said.

The DOTC is also coordinating with the PNP for the deployment of police personnel in bus terminals.

"Police visibility will help frighten off those with ill-intents against others. We hope to have more policemen posted in bus terminals," Valdez added.

Valdez also warned operators of all public utility vehicles (PUV) against taking advantage of the Christmas rush to charge more than what is allowed.

He noted that the most common complaint filed with the DOTC by passengers are over-charging and refusal to convey passengers by taxi drivers.

Because of this, Valdez said that DOTC has put up complaint desks in malls to accommodate complaints and assist passengers who have been victimized by abusive drivers.

"Some people might see the holiday as an opportunity to commit abuses. We hope they would not do so because the DOTC will be monitoring them," Valdez stressed.