By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here will be deploying its personnel to secure the observance of the Holy Week.
Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, Nocppo’s deputy information officer, said that police assistance desks will be stationed at churches, shopping malls, and other strategic areas from March 28 for the Palm Sunday until April 3.
Negrosanons are expected to visit places of worship which will increase the number of persons travelling, resulting to crowding in transport terminals and other places of convergence.
Nocppo said that such poses security threat especially that the New People’s Army (NPA) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will be celebrating its founding anniversary on March 29 and might take advantage of the situation to conduct atrocities.
As a proactive measure, all police stations will establish police assistance desks, and deploy covert police personnel to the said areas.
Donasco said that beat patrollers will also be deployed in streets to ensure the public’s safety.
To manage the traffic and secure the roads for travelers, road safety marshals and traffic personnel will be stationed along major routes.
Despite the special occasion, Donasco said there are no changes on regular police functions such as public safety and anti-criminality activities, as it will continue as usual.
Likewise, with the existential threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the said stations will also deploy teams of police officers who will ensure that the public adheres to the minimum health standards against the infectious virus.
With the high requirement of personnel, Nocppo will utilize the help of 2,375 force multipliers.
Police Colonel Romy Palgue, Nocppo director, appealed to the members of the NPA to stop the conduct of atrocities especially targeting police officers and other security forces who are securing the Negrosanons observing the Lenten Season.
Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant Liberty Indiape, BCPO spokesperson, said that policemen will also be deployed in beach resorts since families would usually spend the Easter Sunday there.
Indiape said that they are also on full alert for the upcoming NPA anniversary.
Indiape said that their security plan for the holy week is already in place and will start the deployment by the weekend, adding that it will be retained for the summer vacation.
