Metro security goes into high gear

With less than two weeks to go before Christmas, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) brought into high gear yesterday security measures at Metro Manila’s churches, transport system terminals and shopping and commercial centers.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol also mobilized Muslim groups and vendors’ associations as "force multipliers" in keeping the Baclaran and Divisoria areas safe from threats of criminal syndicates and terrorists.

"Our Muslim brothers and the vendors will act as our watchdogs and are committed to bring a safe, orderly and peaceful Christmas celebration in Metro Manila," Querol said.

In the last two days, Querol conducted rounds in Metro Manila’s busiest commercial districts to inspect the deployment of security forces.

So far, he has been satisfied with what he saw.

The 17,000-strong NCRPO would be augmented by at least 200 policemen from Camp Crame and 8,000 elements from the military’s National Capital Region command.

Querol has placed the NCRPO on heightened alert to ensure that a repeat of the attacks on properties owned by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and allies of the President last week are not repeated.

"I don’t want any bombings to occur in Metro Manila as it would alarm the people," Querol said.

The NCRPO chief inspected security measures yesterday at the Baclaran church at 10:30 a.m. He then took a Light Railway Transit (LRT) train to Quiapo church, proceeded to Divisoria before taking another train to Monumento.

The completed the inspection with a bus ride to the Gateway mall at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

"So far, so good. I found our security deployment satisfactory," Querol told The Star. "We brought our security preparations into high gear to prevent criminal syndicates and terrorists from taking advantage of the situation."

Querol brought to the attention of Superintendent Ronald Estilles, Parañaque City police chief, the complaints of parishioners in Baclaran that vendors were blocking the church gates.

"I told our Muslim brothers and the vendors’ associations to be considerate. They can sell their wares, but they must not block the gates and inconvenience parishioners," the NCRPO chief.

He siad Divisoria may be crowded, but the Manila Police District (MPD) is on top of the situation.