The Philippine National Police (PNP) will cancel all the leaves of absence of its personnel starting Dec. 15 as part of the measures to maximize police visibility for the Christmas season across the country, particularly in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said at least 41,000 policemen will be tapped to secure the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the maximum deployment will start on the beginning of the traditional misa de gallo or midnight mass.
“Initially, we will be deploying around 41,000 nationwide and by next week, effective December 15, we will no longer allow leaves of our personnel except of course in cases of emergency,” said Fajardo.
“This is to make sure that we will have a sufficient number of personnel that will be deployed come Holiday season,” she added.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil earlier ordered all police commanders to intensify police presence and visibility in urban areas and other places of convergence during the Holiday season.
This includes churches, malls, markets, transportation hubs, and other favorite places where families would usually visit to take advantage of the long Christmas break.
Fajardo said the order is aimed at securing the public as the PNP expects the number of travelers to double, as well as a significant increase of people in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
The official said police forces will be augmented by personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection and personnel from the local government units.
“Our field commanders from the regional directors to provincial directors down to city police stations have the discretion to increase the deployment depending on the prevailing security situation,” said Fajardo.