THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy additional police forces at airports nationwide to ensure peace and order and public’s safety, particularly for the Holy Week and summer vacation exodus when a number of passengers are expected.
PNP spokesperson Wilben Mayor said Police Chief Superintendent Pablo Francisco Balagtas, director of the Aviation Security Group, requested for the augmentation of police forces at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals, as well as with the other airports in the country following the airport bombing in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday that killed 34 people.
"The chief PNP, Police Director General Ricardo Marquez, has reminded all units to secure vital installations and implement target hardening measures in relation to the operational guidelines of the PNP dubbed as 'Ligtas Sumvac (Summer Vacation) 2016,'" said Mayor.
He said Marquez’s directive includes the intensification of police presence through foot and mobile patrols; through the establishment of police assistance desks and centers, which the public can as help from in case of emergency; and through the deployment of road safety marshals who will attend to motorists particularly in places of convergence such as in bus terminals, seaports, train stations, recreational areas including highways, main thoroughfares and other crime-prone areas.
But Mayor said there have been no validated reports of terrorist threats in Metro Manila, while security forces and the intelligence network of the PNP as well as by the military are continuously monitoring the situation on the ground to make sure that terror groups would not be able to strike.
“The PNP assures the public that sufficient units are on standby, ready to respond to any situation and act on contingencies,” he said.
The PNP encourages the public to cooperate by providing them with relevant and timely information through its social media accounts: Twitter @pnppio and @pnphotline, or PNP Facebook page and contact number 09178475757. (Sunnex)