The Manila Times
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday intensified security operations as vacationers returned to Metro Manila and other urban areas after the Holy Week break. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez ordered all commanders to maintain a strong presence on major roads and transportation hubs. Nartatez emphasized the need to extend assistance to other government agencies to ensure the roadworthiness of passenger buses and other public utility vehicles (PUVs), as well as the mental and physical alertness of the drivers. In a separate statement posted on social media, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez directed the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) to strictly inspect not only the passengers’ luggage but also the OTS Security Screening Officers (SSOs) assigned to airports. Lopez said SSOs were deployed to ensure passenger safety and prevent smuggling. Lopez earlier ordered the relief of two SSOs and a supervisor at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City while an investigation is underway, in connection with the reported missing P7,000 and 1,000 new Taiwan dollars from an Australian national passenger. Nartatez commended all PNP commanders and personnel for the peaceful and orderly observance of Holy Week. “Our sacrifices, from planning to implementation of the security measures, really paid off, and this was not possible without the dedication and hard work, especially of our personnel on the ground,” he said. The PNP mobilized over 98,000 cops for Holy Week and placed police forces across the country on full alert until April 5. The deployment was focused on churches, tourist spots, major thoroughfares, transportation hubs, and other places of convergence.
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