Military to deploy close to 200 troops in MM for Lenten security

By Ronron
March 18, 2008

The military unit in the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will be deploying close to 200 personnel starting Wednesday afternoon as part of its Oplan Tulong Lakbay program to assist police and traffic units in providing security to travelers during the Lenten break.

NCRCOM chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa said Tuesday that the personnel consist of security forces, bomb experts with bomb-sniffing dogs, mechanics, and medical practitioners.

“We will have soldiers from the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) who have canines with them who will go around bus terminals to see to it that nobody will succeed in attempting to sow violence in bus terminals,” Mesa told reporters in Filipino in an interview at his office at Camp Aguinaldo.

They will particularly help secure four bus terminals in Manila City, five in Quezon City, four in the southern district, and two in the northern distric.

Aside from bus terminals, Mesa said the military personnel will also secure highways like the Northern Luzon Expressway, Southern Luzon Expressway, the Coastal Road in Cavite, and Marcos Highway near Masinag Market in Antipolo City.

They will work with elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), he said.

“We must move forward. Our soldiers should always be ready not just in terms of security. Whatever resources we have, we will also share with our countrymen, like helping them in their trips to provinces,” Mesa said.

“Our assurance to our countrymen is that your soldiers, even if it is Lenten season, are here, ready to assist,” he added.

Mesa said the soldiers will provide assistance until Maundy Thursday, and resume on Easter Sunday. They will be on a break on Good Friday and Black Saturday because the people are expected to be confined to their houses or in churches.

Mesa said the NCRCOM will maintain its blue alert status, which started after the anti-government rally in Manila City Friday last week.

He said that so far, the NCRCOM has not received any security threat during the break.

“Right now, we don’t see any threat. But we don’t want to be caught unprepared already so we are on alert,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, is going on heightened alert status effective Wednesday noon, as it expects a zero-crime rate on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, citing their hope that criminals will also observe the Lenten tradition.

Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, director of the Police Community Relations and concurrent director of the PNP Oplan Bantay Lakbay, said: “Usually, it is zero-crime rate. So hopefully, that can be duplicated this year. Criminals should also ponder upon their acts.”

The PNP’s Oplan Bantay Lakbay was activated Tuesday afternoon./DMS