MANILA, Philippines — The 138,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP) was placed on full alert effective Monday afternoon as part of the security and safety plan for the opening of classes on June 6 and the coming Independence Day celebrations.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the full alert status took effect last Monday 5 p.m.

Cruz said that PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Raul M. Bacalzo issued Letter of Instruction 17/2011 (Balik-Eskwela 2011) mobilizing all PNP regional offices and national support units and to perform specific tasks and coordinating instructions to implement the nationwide security and public safety plan.

He added that Bacalzo has placed the entire PNP under nationwide full alert status to ensure the availability and operational readiness of police units, personnel and resources for security and public safety operations in connection with the opening of classes next week.

An estimated 25-million students in different levels are expected to troop to back to schools nationwide for the simultaneous opening of classes in both public and private learning institutions.

Bacalzo said that LOI Balik-Eskwela 2011 ensures the operational readiness of police units in responding to peace and order concerns including threats from criminal elements that may take advantage of the situation.

The PNP chief gave all police regional directors the discretionary authority to raise alert conditions as they deem necessary to effectively implement their respective security and public safety plans.

“Of priority concern to the PNP are incidents of street crimes such as pickpocket, snatching, swindling, robbery/hold-up, and street-level drug trafficking,” said Cruz, adding, police patrols in the vicinity of schools will also be on the look-out for drug traffickers and violent street gangs that may infiltrate the ranks of students.

He said local PNP units were likewise instructed to coordinate closely with school administrators and officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to ensure safety and security of students.

In Metro Manila, the entire 16,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will field personnel in strategic areas within the vicinity of schools for foot, mobile and police visibility patrols and establish Police Assistance Desks (PADs).