By Aaron Recuenco
Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the full alert status took effect at 8 a.m. on Monday morning and will last until December 14.
PNP spokesman P/Col. Bernard Banac
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Aside from Metro Manila, also placed under full alert status were police forces in Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).
National Support Units like the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Special Action Force (SAF) and Maritime Group (MG) were also placed under full alert.
"All police regional offices and national administrative units will be on heightened alert status," said Banac.
Full alert means suspension of all leaves and dayoffs to ensure availability of all police personnel while heightened alert mandatea that at least 50 percent of policemen must be present amd ready for deployment.
At least 27,000 policemen will be deployed in sports venues and billering areas of athletes and other delegatea for the SEA Games.
In Metro Manila where 19 games will be held, almost 16,000 cops will be deployed.
Several games will also be held in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
Among the deployment were from the HPG which will deploy 101 motorcycle-riding cops and mobile units which will secure roads and ease traffic.
Athletes and other delegates started arriving in the country as early as the weekend.
The government is currently under fire for what critics describe as sloppy preparations that led to billeting woes of foreign and local athletes.