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Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Police on alert for All Saints’ Day
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday activated its “Operation Plan Kaluluwa,” a measure aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ days, a police official said.
“(This is) to ensure the security of your loved ones who will go to the cemeteries for All Saints’ and All Souls’ days," Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio, the PNP’s directorate for operations, said in a news briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
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Alarcio said policemen would be deployed in the cemeteries and travel routes to maintain peace and order. Also, they would be exerting monitoring efforts to deter terrorists from taking advantage of the occasion, he said.
The police general said: "The police regional mobile groups, provincial mobile groups, and intelligence community will intensify their efforts against plans of enemies like terrorists. Since the 9/11 incident, we have changed our view about holidays."
Alarcio was referring to the September 11, 2001 bombings in Washington DC and New York that left thousands dead and many others injured. The twin attacks were perpetrated by the al-Qaeda network of Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden.
Assist commuters
PNP-Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Perfecto Palad said TMG policemen would be deployed to the major thoroughfares starting Wednesday morning to assist commuters who are going to the provinces.
"We expect a heavy volume of vehicles at Northern Luzon Expressway, and people in bus terminals," Palad said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is focusing on the All Saints’ and All Souls’ days preparations after securing the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections last Monday.
In Metro Manila, about 500 traffic enforcers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be deployed under "Oplan Kaluluwa" to beef up the PNP and local government units for the expected exodus of the public to the provinces and cemeteries during the All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.
At the same time, the MMDA has identified "traffic-critical” areas in the metropolis during the coming celebration.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said he has already ordered his men to strictly enforce the law as millions are expected to trek to the provinces and cemeteries to honor their departed loved ones.
Tightened security
Under “Oplan Kaluluwa,” the agency has tightened security in the cemeteries and its vicinities while ensuring the unobstructed flow of traffic in major thoroughfares especially along the 24-kilometer Epifanio De Los Santos (Edsa) and roads leading to and from the cemeteries.
Fernando said aside from the cemeteries, his men are also instructed to keep watch on bus terminals, churches, shopping malls and other critical areas to ensure the safety of the public.
"We have made a month-long preparation to ensure a smooth, traffic-free, and peaceful All Saints’ and All Souls’ days," he said.
Road and rescue teams, he added, are also on a 24-hour operation from October 31 to November 4 to provide assistance to distressed motorists, commuters, and pedestrians.
In case of emergencies, the MMDA's mobile equipment like tow-trucks, ambulances, and rescue vehicles are available 24-hours a day during the five-day “Oplan Kaluluwa” activity. (VR/AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (October 31, 2007 issue)
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