ASIDE from the more than 5,000 policemen already deployed for the entire summer season, another 500 cops will be deployed solely for the Holy Week.

“We are expecting an influx of passengers in bus terminals. At the same time, pilgrims and devotees to local churches and pilgrimage sites are expected to flock especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. This is why I have ordered the maximum deployment of our personnel and I have tapped the support of other police units within the region,” said Police Brigadier General Joel Napoleon Coronel, Police Regional Office for Central Luzon (PRO 3) director.

“We have also solicited the support of our force multipliers and auxiliary forces to include our BPATs (Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams) and radio net groups to help us ensure public safety,” Coronel said.

He said that police presence will be intensified through increased foot/mobile patrols and established Police Assistance Desks/Centers (PADs/Cs). Also, road safety marshals are being deployed in convergence points particularly in bus terminals, airport, seaports and recreational areas including highways, main thoroughfares and crime prone areas to ensure maximum police presence.

“I have directed all City/Provincial Directors from the different Police Provincial/City Police Offices to personally inspect their men on the ground to ensure the safe and secure travel of motorists and commuters this Lenten Season and summer vacation,” Coronel said.

He also advised the public to stay alert and vigilant.

“Once again, I am calling for the cooperation of the public to prevent any crime in the community by providing authorities relevant and timely information through PRO3 hotline 0998-5985330/ 0917- 5562597 and social media (Facebook account: www.facebook.com/PoliceRegionalOffice3/). Our ‘SUMVAC 2019’ started last March 25 and will remain in effect until June 13, 2019,” Coronel said.

Meanwhile, the Highway Patrol Unit-3 (HPU3) on Monday deployed their Highway Patrol Field (HPF) Mobile along the stretch of MacArthur Highway to assist motorists.

Police Colonel Kerby Kraft, HPU3 regional commander, said he has ordered all his HPF commanders to assist local policemen in manning traffic conditions along national highways in their area of responsibility.

Kraft also said that their HPF personnel are on duty 24/7 to ensure that traffic situation in the area will be smooth.