BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office-13 is on heightened alert for the Holy Week and “summer” vacation.
PRO 13-Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) head Police Major Jennifer S. Ometer said field commanders and police chiefs have been authorized to adjust the alert status depending on the situation in their areas of responsibility.

“As a matter of practice, kapag ganitong Holy Week observance ay naka-heightened alert na tayo pero ang mga field commanders at directors are given the discretion sa mga area nila at kung kailangan pang mas itaas pa ang and full alert level,” Ometer said.
Ometer said they have been on heightened alert, under which all police personnel should be on duty and vacation leaves are cancelled, and only those under medical leave are exempted, since Christmas last year.
She added that though PRO-13 has not monitored any threats that may disrupt the Holy Week, they will still continuously coordinate with the other law enforcement agencies and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to maintain peace.
“Sufficient police personnel or manpower are deployed in the different areas of concern like roads, churches, and event coverages and activities, air ports, sea ports, terminals, malls, markets, and different tourist destinations, to secure people from all walks of life.”
She said that PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft is going around the region with the command group to ensure that police forces and stations are ready to respond to any untoward incidents.
PRO-13 mobilized at least 7,000 policemen and force multipliers across the region for the Holy Week.
It advised people who are planning to go on vacation during the Holy Week and summer not to leave their houses unattended.
“Through God’s care, PRO-13, under the good leadership of Brig. Gen. Kraft, will do our very best to ensure that the observance of the Holy Week in Caraga region will be smooth, orderly, safe, and secure,” Ometer added.