By Martin Sadongdong
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is gearing up for the opening of classes on June 3 as thousands of students are expected to go back to their schools after a two-month break.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) P/Maj. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar
(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO director, said the entire Metro Manila police force will be on full alert status a week before the classes open.
According to Eleazar, responding to hoax bomb threats has become one of the most recurring problems for the Metro Manila police force during the opening of classes.
In line with this, Eleazar bared an instituted protocol in dealing with reports of bomb threats as part of the NCRPO's security preparation.
If one receives a bomb threat, Eleazar said the recipient of the alert must immediately coordinate with the school’s administration and security officials.
The incident must then be reported to the nearest police station for quick response. School officials were urged to note the hotlines of the police stations nearest to their area.
Evacuation must be implemented and as soon as an explosive ordnance division (EOD) unit arrives, the area must be cordoned off and a search will follow to determine if there really is a bomb in the area, Eleazar said.
If the explosive is found, the EOD unit will then conduct a safe rendering procedure to disarm, control or detonate it, he added.
Eleazar earlier said a total of 7,153 police personnel will be deployed by the NCRPO to ensure the safety and security of the students on the day of the opening of classes.
More than 2,000 cops will be assigned to man the police assistance desks (PADs) situated in the different schools and universities in the metro.
"I would like to rally everyone to close in on the vicinities of these schools. We have to secure our pupils and students," Eleazar said.