PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. yesterday said they are already preparing for the Yuletide Season where they will go 21-day nationwide full alert to ensure the security of the public.

During the yuletide season, the PNP will be using the same security template they used during the recent observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day which were described by the top cop as generally peaceful and orderly, the top cop said.

No major untoward incident was reported during the long ‘Undas’ except for the electrocution of a man inside the Eternal Peace Memorial Park in Mabalacat City in Pampanga and the arrest of seven men and the confiscation of three illegal firearms in Metro Manila by members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) under Brigadier Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo.

The PNP Command Center in Camp Crame will be a beehive of monitoring activities during the forthcoming Christmas period leading to the New Year holidays. Officers manning the PCC are tasked to monitor all law enforcement and public safety operations by PNP units across the country particularly the situation in churches and other places of major convergence during the traditional Misa de Gallo.

Gen. Azurin, according to PNP Public Information Office chief, Colonel Redrico A. Maranan, wants the deployment of more deskbound officers in the field during the yuletide season.

The PNP chief wants 85 percent of its entire force to be physically be present in public places and areas of congregation during the yuletide season just like during the past ‘Undas’ period..

“During the holiday season, anyway, we will put the police on full alert status. So basically, 85 percent of our total strength will also be deployed outside,” Col. Maranan said.

The official explained that more uniformed personnel shall be deployed in churches, shopping malls, flea markets, parks and other places of convergence including airports, seaports, bus terminals and hotels.

The PNP will go on full alert one week before Christmas, he added. Col. Maranan said they will also be particularly unrelenting in their conduct of anti-criminality operations specifically in going after illegal drugs, loose firearms and wanted persons during the period.

The PNP full alert during the yuletide season will be from December 15, 2022 until January 5, 2023. That means the deployment of additional plainclothes and uniformed police officers to patrol the streets and help prevent and address criminality.

During the period, over 70,000 policemen, supported by thousands of ‘force multipliers’ will implement the PNP’s Enhanced Managing Police Operations (E-MPO)strategy to arrest crime in the streets.

The PNP’s deployment strategy for this year’s Christmas season will cover “community firecracker zones, assistance hubs, places of worship, commercial centers, road safety points, seaports, train stations, and airports.”

Other police officers will be fielded for “anti-criminality operations, anti-motorcycle-riding suspects and reactionary standby support force.”

Police visibility and patrol operations meanwhile will be heightened for the security of churchgoers in the traditional Simbang Gabi (Aguinaldo Masses) which will start on December 16.

All police regional directors have been ordered to tighten the security of night shift police personnel and foot patrol operations and maximize police visibility around churches during the traditional Simbang Gabi.

Police are also under instruction to be more vigilant in addressing common street crimes including robbery, theft, mugging, swindling and street gang violence.

“These police units will remain in their posts until public activity has returned to normal,” said the PNP chief as he thanked all PNP units and their partner agencies, local government units and volunteers for helping the government ensure a generally peaceful ‘Undas.’

Last week, Gen. Azurin congratulated his men for ensuring a generally peaceful ‘Undas’ and said their best practices shall henceforth be their template in similar public safety operations for upcoming major public events.

Gen. Azurin likewise said PNP units have been instructed to provide necessary security and assistance to government health, aid, and public works personnel in preparation for upcoming weather disturbances.

“We are confident that with the early preparations in coordination with local government units, national agencies, and private organizations, we will be able to save lives and minimize effects of the calamity,” he said.

During the ‘Undas’ period, NCRPO chief, Brig. Gen. Estomo said his men arrested six suspects and seized three illegal firearms as a result of their strict security inside and outside public cemeteries and memorial parks during the long weekend.

The official said that one man was arrested last October 31 when his bag was found containing a cal. .22 revolver with two live ammunition while undergoing routine inspection at the Palanyag Cemetery.

Brig. Gen. Estomo said that four men were also apprehended by his men for drinking liquor inside the Manila Memorial Park in Bgy. BF Homes, Parañaque City on the same day.

The four were arrested following a tip that a group of persons drinking liquor on the law of the Manila Memorial Park allegedly fired a gun.

The NCRPO chief said local policemen initially arrested one of the suspects after he yielded a cal. .38 revolver with five bullets. However, during the course of the arrest, Conot’s drinking buddies resisted and rudely insulted the responding officers.

After they uttered unsavory words at the lawmen, the four were also placed under arrest.

The five are now facing complaints for violation of RA 10591, alarm and scandal and resistance and disobedience to a person of authority and their agents under the Revised Penal Code before a local prosecutor’s office, said Southern Police District director, Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft.

Brig. Gen. Estomo said police also arrested one Cesar Joveda, 40, while in possession of a cal. .38 revolver with five live ammunition in Pateros City last October 31.

The arrest of the accused came shortly after officers received a complaint about a gun-toting incident along FC Cruz Street in Bgy. Magtanggol which involved a man driving a blue Toyota Avanza.

Policemen who flagged down the suspect’s van at the Pateros Bridge in Bgy. Poblacion placed him under arrest when he yielded the firearm. The suspect is facing charges for violation of RA 10591, grave threats, physical injuries and violation of the anti-child abuse law.

“Hindi natin alam ang mga pinaplano nila ngunit sigurado tayo na ang mga baril na ito ay paulit ulit nating ipinalala na bawal dalhin sa loob ng ating mga sementeryo. Makikita natin na sa pagiging alerto, mabilis at mahusay ng ating mga kapulisan ay naagapan natin at napigilan ang anumang masamang intensyon ng mga suspek sa pagdadala ng mga baril na ito,” Brig. Gen. Estomo said.