By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it will tap its cyber units to expand its security coverage for the coming “Undas” holidays on Nov. 1 and 2.
Acting PNP Chief PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., said police cyber units will operate in tandem with regional monitoring hubs to watch over social media chatter and digital incident reports that could indicate emerging threats or misinformation.
“Security today is no longer confined to physical spaces. We are also monitoring digital spaces where misinformation or scams can spread quickly, especially when millions of Filipinos are travelling and staying connected through their phones,” he added.
Nartatez said technology has provided an added layer of situational awareness, adding that it helps the PNP deploy personnel more efficiently and detect possible problems before they escalate.
Nartatez tasked the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to flag fake advisories, phishing messages, or online scams pretending to offer travel assistance or cemetery services.
He said crowd behavior analytics drawn from CCTV networks, drone footage, and mobile app data will also help estimate real-time movement in transport terminals and major cemeteries.
So far, the PNP said it has not monitored threats for the annual observance. On the ground, around 25,300 police personnel and 22,000 force multipliers will be deployed nationwide to ensure public safety.
Assistance desks, patrol teams, and traffic management units will also be stationed in cemeteries, bus terminals, seaports, and airports.
Ahead of Undas, the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) initiated a surprise random drug testing of 37 Uniformed and Non-Uniformed personnel in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Wednesday in close coordination with the PNP Forensic Group.
“This initiative empowers our personnel to lead by example. Participating in random drug testing reinforces our dedication to ethical conduct and personal responsibility, ensuring that every member of the PIO performs their duties with integrity, transparency, and pride in serving the community,” PBGEN. Randulf Tuaño, PNP Spokesperson and PIO chief, said. (PNA)
