Starting Monday, March 25, all police forces across the country will be on heightened alert status as part of the security measures for the exodus of millions of people for the long Holy Week break.

The heightened alert status, according to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, will be until April 1.

Police commanders, however, were given the authority to adjust the alert status depending on the situation in their respective areas of responsibility.

In terms of police deployment, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. said they increased the number to more than 52,000 and he said their personnel will be augmented by around 87,000 personnel from various government agencies across the country.

“There will be sufficient personnel or manpower that would be deployed in the different areas of concern like roads, event coverages, ports and airports. Our intelligence monitoring will continue,” said Acorda.

“If there is a need to add more, we still have reserve forces. We can put up or deploy additional forces from our reserve force,” he added.

Millions of people are expected to go back to their hometowns and to go on vacation to take advantage of the Holy Week break wherein Maundy Thursday, March 27, and Good Friday, March 29, are regular holidays while Black was declared as a special non-working holiday. 

The Philippine Ports Authority is expecting at least two million passengers across the country while the Manila International Airport Authority is expecting at least one million passengers.

Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista has already directed all officials to ensure safety of all commuters and motorists for the long Lenten break.

On the part of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), its chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II tasked all regional directors to intensify the conduct of road safety inspections of all passenger buses before they leave the bus terminals.

Part of the inspections is the conduct of random drug tests to bus drivers and conductors.

On the part of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), at least 1,000 special permits were already given to public utility vehicles.

Asked why police deployment was increased from 34,000 to 52,000, Acorda said: “We just wanted to make sure that everything is covered.”

Part of those that will be focused on are street crimes and in securing residential areas that would be left by homeowners who would go for a vacation with their family. 

“The PNP  is always assuming the worst threat and that is our preparation for everybody to be secured,” said Acorda.

“On the part of the PNP, it's all systems go and we are thankful that we were able to secure the commitment of other government agencies for augmentation forces. All of us are equally responsible for this inter-agency cooperation and coordination and all systems go,” he added.