55,507 cops deployed for school opening

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police will deploy 55,507 officers and force multipliers nationwide to secure the school opening on June 8, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced yesterday.

Nartatez said the police personnel would be assigned to schools, major thoroughfares and other areas of convergence as millions of students return to school next week.

The deployment consists of 28,751 police personnel, 4,079 members of other support units and 22,677 force multipliers.

“Every year, we conduct security preparations for the opening of classes, including Brigada Eskwela activities. We need to increase our visibility and deployment, especially in school premises and along routes leading to schools,” Nartatez said.

He said maintaining peace and order during the opening of classes is a shared responsibility among law enforcement agencies, local government units, school officials and communities.

In Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office will deploy 4,402 personnel for the school opening, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said.

Police advised the public to report suspicious activities and call the emergency hotline 911 for assistance.

PNP Directorate for Operations director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones said there was no need to place the country under heightened alert status, noting that the deployment is part of the PNP’s routine security operations during the school opening.

Peñones said regional police directors have been directed to monitor and implement their respective Balik Eskwela deployment plans to ensure the safety of students, teachers and parents.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited the Bagong Silangan High School in Quezon City yesterday to lead 4Ps beneficiaries in cleaning classrooms as part of Brigada Eskwela activities. — EJ Macababbad, Delon Porcalla