PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said Monday, December 17, that there will be no suspension of anti-illegal drugs operations during the Christmas holidays.
“Wala tayong tigil dyan dahil iba naman ‘yung nag-ooperate sa anti-illegal drugs. ‘Yung gagawa sa operations sa anti-illegal drugs ay hindi naman yan maitatalaga doon sa mga ibang duties and responsibilities para sa kapaskuhan lalo na ‘yung Oplan Sita, police presence, ‘yung pagtalaga ng police assistance desks lalo na sa malalaking simbahan,” he said.
(We will not stop our anti-drug operations. Those who will conduct the operations are not the ones assigned with tasks related to Oplan Sita or other activities for Christmas.)
“During the previous years, wala tayong sinasabi na break pagdating sa laban na illegal na droga. Last year nga meron pang kahit kapaskuhan ng December 24 at 25 may mga operations pa tayo,” he added.
(There's no break when it comes to our war against illegal drugs. Last year, we conducted anti-drug operations even on December 24 and 25.)
Albayalde said that in previous years, the PNP units, during the Christmas holidays, focus on anti-criminality operations, without totally letting-up other operations, as crimes have the tendency to go up during such time.
“It's a thing of the past. ‘Yung pagsasapit ng kapaskuhan ay tumataas ‘yung ating crime lalo na ‘yung crime against properties natin (hindi na ganoon ngayon),” he said.
Earlier, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. said the police commanders in respective areas may decide to raise the alert levels depending on the situation in their areas of jurisdiction.
Durana said security measures and preparations for the upcoming holiday exodus has been finalized following a command conference in Camp Crame last week.
However, he said commanders have also been instructed to make their own security assessments in their areas to identify what other measures they can add to ensure the peace and order and security of the people. (SunStar Philippines)