Navy alerts units for Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy on Monday said that it has placed its units nationwide on high alert in preparation for the Holy Week.

"[The alert will be implemented] to maintain readiness for any situation that may arise," Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said.

Fabic said that the Navy will keep its watch while "Catholics all over the country fast, repent, search their inner self and celebrate the Holy Week."

The Navy operates a fleet of 80 to 110 ships which are crewed by an estimated 24,000 officers and enlisted personnel.

Of the said number of ships, more than 30 are deployed in waters off Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (Basulta) as hundreds of Filipino leave Sabah due to the ongoing conflict between Malaysian security forces and the army of the sultanate of Sulu.

Fabic had assured that despite the deployment of more ships to the "Basulta" area, the Navy is still capable of securing the whole country.