Cotabato City Police alert status up for Holy Week

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 8): Cotabato City Police alert status up for Holy Week

Police personnel here and elsewhere in Soccsksargen have been placed on alert status as the region prepares for the observance of Holy Week.

Cotabato City Police director, Sr. Supt. Victor Valencia, said police visibility will be a priority in Catholic sites where religious activities will take place.

Valencia said they will begin implementing "Oplan Summer Vacation" on Saturday.

"Police personnel, both uniformed and non-uniformed, have been deployed in and around Churches, religious shrines and areas where people gather to reflect and pray," he told reporters.

While attention has been focused on religious sites because Holy Week is coming, Valencia said police will also be visible in public markets, bus terminals and malls to deter crimes.

He said police assistance desks will be open in these areas from Saturday until Easter Sunday.

Government troops have also been deployed around the city and its exit and entry points.

In North Cotabato, provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, said they are ready this early to secure Churchgoers and visitors to various religious shrines, places of worship and in public places where people converge.

Peralta said Oplan Summer Vacation is already in place and all town police chiefs are on top of the situation in their respective areas of assignment, in partnership with the 602nd Infantry Brigade, 34th, 7th and 39th Infantry Battalions in North Cotabato.

Across Soccsksargen, Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., speaking for the regional police, said they are on alert against possible terrorism, harassment from communist rebels and other crimes.

Soccsksargen covers the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos.

Preventive measures are in place, especially against lawless elements and New People's Army guerrillas who may launch terrorist attacks against police and soldiers in South Cotabato and Sarangani, said Galgo.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=978726