P’panga cops gird for All Saints’ Day

SAN FERNANDO, Pam­panga – At least 1,000 policemen will be fielded in 98 cemeteries, while 200 bantay bayan stations are being beefed across the province as part of the preparations for the observance of All Saints’ Day.

Senior Superintendent Keith Singian, Pampanga police director, said he has also ordered the setting up of motorist assistance centers (MACs) along the  MacArthur and Maharlika highways, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Olongapo-Gapan Road in cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Highways, Manila North Tollways Corp., radio groups, and other civic organizations.

Singian said he expects traffic along major highways and roads leading to the north to increase in volume starting Oct. 27 until Nov. 4.

He said barangay peace­keeping action teams and volunteer traffic enforcers are also now being briefed on their roles as “force multipliers” on Nov. 1, when most families go to the cemeteries to pay respects to their dead.

Singian said policemen will be visible at “places of convergence” such as cemeteries and public transport terminals “to ensure law and order.”

He said security will also be beefed up at vital installations, economic key points and even police camps and stations.