PNP preparing Holy Week plan

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered all regional directors and police operational support unit commanders to beef up security and public safety plans to ensure a peaceful observance of Holy Week beginning April 1.

Sources said the PNP intelligence units are also monitoring threats similar to the 2005 terror plan of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which is linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network.

During Holy Week in 2005, the government intensified its campaign against terrorism after learning of terrorists’ plans to carry out a series of bombings in the country.

On Holy Wednesday in 2005, authorities seized sacks of explosives from an apartment rented by suspected terrorists in Quezon City. The raid is believed to have thwarted bombing attacks by these terrorist groups.

Calderon also reminded all police unit commanders, especially those whose areas of jurisdiction are infested with insurgents like the New People’s Army (NPA) that, "while we will be concentrating on public protection and assistance, the communist insurgents may take advantage of the occasion by harassing police stations or attacking vital government installations to embarrass the government. We have to intensify our security activities because we cannot let this happen."

He also directed PNP personnel to enforce the Letter of Instruction (LOI) for Bantay Lakbay 2007, which details the PNP’s public safety service duties to provide assistance to the general public in anticipation of an upsurge of province-bound travelers to prevent traffic congestion, accidents, robbery and other street crimes.

"Criminal elements may take this as an opportune time to conduct robberies and increase illegal activities, so I directed my commanders to maximize their deployment of mobile and motorcycle units and uniformed personnel to deter and preempt plans and activities of criminal elements during this period," Calderon said.

Under LOI Bantay Lakbay 2007, all police units are directed to establish police assistance centers in accident- and crime-prone areas, traffic congestion points, domestic airports, piers, bus terminals and train stations – especially the terminals of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

Calderon also ordered all police units to carry out necessary provisions for emergency and medical response in coordination with government agencies, local government units and civilian volunteer organizations.

In case of emergency, Calderon reminded the public to report these contingencies to the PNP Patrol 117 hotline or TXT PNP 2920 for immediate response.

Calderon also ordered the PNP Directorate for Operations (DO) under Director Wilfredo Garcia to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in case there is a need for AFP augmentation in places identified as communist hotbeds.