GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 deployed additional personnel to various police units on Tuesday to augment the security operations for the Holy Week and the summer vacation, an official said.
Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban, PRO-12 regional director, said the move is part of their mandate to maximize the deployment of personnel to properly secure the entire region during the holidays.
The augmentation team comprised personnel from the Special Action Force (SAF), Regional Mobile Force Unit (RFMU) and is dubbed “motor cops,” tourist police and patrol unit, Lukban said.
PRO-12 held a send-off ceremony for the team on Monday at the regional headquarters in Barangay Tambler here.
During the activity, the regional office turned over 21 units of Thales tactical radio communication equipment to the augmentation team.
Lukban said the augmentation personnel will help in the strengthening of checkpoints in entry and exit points of major highways in the region, as well as conduct mobile and foot patrols in places of convergence.
Some of them will be assigned in police assistance desks set up in places of prayer and worship, and tourist destinations, he added.
The Holy Week, an annual Christian tradition, started on Palm Sunday, March 25, and will end on Holy Saturday, March 31, or the day before Easter.
The Philippine National Police placed all police units in the country on full alert from March 23 to June 13 for the Holy Week and the summer break.
Despite the security measures, Lukban clarified that there has been no “real threat” reported to the PRO-12 in connection with the holidays.
“We’re on full alert status and intensified intelligence gathering. (Rest assured) that PRO 12 remains on top of the security situation of the region,” he said.
PRO-12 has operational jurisdiction over the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. (PNA)
