The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy nearly 10,000 uniformed personnel to key areas in Metro Manila in order to ensure the peaceful observance and celebration of the holiday season.
NCRPO chief Director Oscar Albayalde said the deployment of policemen in busy areas, including places of convergence, was part of their efforts to ensure that residents of Metro Manila will peacefully celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
In particular, the NCRPO chief ordered the deployment and increased presence of uniformed policemen in malls, churches, transport terminals and other places of convergence.
“This Christmas [season], we will be deploying 9,559 uniformed policemen in all places of convergence, particularly in malls, MRT [Metro Rail Transit], LRT [Light Rail Transit] stations, shopping areas, especially the open markets, and big churches,” Albayalde said on Monday.
Albayalde added they have not monitored any specific threat for the holiday season. He said the deployment of policemen was also part of their precautionary security measures in Metro Manila.
He reminded the public to be vigilant against suspicious-looking persons in their communities and coordinate closely with authorities to thwart any attempt to disrupt peace during the holiday season.
The NCRPO chief added the command does not need any additional forces to secure the metropolis.
“We don’t need augmentation for this Christmas season,” he said.
Albayalde noted that among the usual crimes committed during the holiday season are pick-pocketing and snatching, especially in shopping areas.