Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde ordered the stepping up of police visibility and preventive patrol operations to the ensure safety and security of churchgoers attending the traditional “Simbang Gabi” starting on Sunday dawn.
Albayalde said he expects field commanders to make inspection rounds in churches around the metropolis and suburbs on Sunday to assess the implementation of beat patrol and mobile patrol operations in areas where parishioners gather to attend the traditional nine-day dawn masses or Misa de Gallo.
The PNP chief instructed all police regional directors to redirect police patrol operations to maximize police visibility around churches.
“This is an important Filipino tradition that we cannot afford to miss. We are prepared to address any security issue that can possibly spoil this event,” he said in a statement.
Albayalde specifically instructed field unit commanders to deploy mobile patrol units with blinkers turned on to visibly establish police presence but not necessarily create undue alarm to the public.
Local police units were also reminded to be on the lookout for criminal elements engaged in common street crimes such as mugging, swindling, gang wars, robbery and theft, and burglary of unattended residences.
Likewise, local policemen were instructed to coordinate closely with barangay authorities to muster support from village watchmen, citizen volunteers and other force multipliers to serve as marshals.
Albayalde said selected members of the PNP Command Group and Directorial Staff designated as area supervisors will conduct random inspection to determine compliance of PNP units. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
