GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 declared the observance of the Holy Week in the entire Region 12 or Soccsksargen as “generally peaceful and orderly.”
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Region 12 police director, said Monday they have not recorded any untoward incident in the area that was directly related to the week-long annual Lenten celebration.
He said the Holy Week activities in the region, especially in Catholic Churches, were held smoothly based on the monitoring conducted by local police units.
Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
Morales attributed the accomplishment to the security patrols and maximum presence of police personnel in strategic places and areas of public convergence.
The official specifically cited churches, public transport terminals, beaches, shopping malls, among others.
“We did our best to accomplish our core function to properly secure the people and our local communities during the entire Holy Week as mandated to us by the central office,” he said in a statement.
The police official said they were “very grateful and proud to be assigned” in the Soccsksargen region as they were able help many people in the process.
He said the challenges faced by their personnel have even made them better and transformed to better achievement of their core functions.
Morales said they will sustain their heightened alert status in the entire region in line with the summer break.
The Philippine National Police placed all police units in the country on full alert starting March 23 until June 13 for the Holy Week and the summer break.
He added that the PRO-12 has “strategically planned for a safe and secure school break,” which is considered the longest summer vacation in the country.(PNA)
