By Arabella Asis
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday, April 10, that the Holy Week observance in the country was “peaceful.”
PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. lauded the collective effort of the police force and civilians during the Lenten season.
Azurin noted the strict implementation of Oplan Ligtas Sumvac 2023 proved to be efficient during the celebration.
However, PNP recorded 57 drowning incidents with 62 deaths and 11 vehicular accidents with four deaths within Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
Azurin reminded travelers to take extra precautions and observe traffic rules to avoid accidents.
The PNP Chief also appealed to the public to not leave children unattended and to avoid drinking liquor during family outings to prevent drowning.
With Holy Week ending, Azurin assured that police personnel will now focus on providing assistance to public transportation.
“Deployment of personnel will focus now on bus terminals, seaports, and airports as activities and movement of the traveling public will be more in these areas,” he continued.
PNP reported a 14.69% drop in incidents of eight focus crimes compared to 2022. – gb