Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Although there’s no security threat in Metro Manila this Undas break, more than 9,000 policemen will be fielded in airports, seaports, bus terminals, and cemeteries starting Saturday until November 2.
National Capital Region Police Office acting chief Oscar Albayalde said they are doing this to ensure people’s safety in highly crowded areas.
“Itong ginagawa nating mga deployment, mga checkpoint operations natin, yung pagbabantay natin sa mga places of convergence, this is all to prevent any untoward incident or any terrorist act,” he said.
[Translation: The deployment, the checkpoint operations and the patrol that we’re doing at places of convergence, this is all to prevent any untoward incident or any terrorist act.]
The police are asking for the public’s full cooperation to keep Undas peaceful and orderly.
“Rine-remind natin ang ating mga commuters na ang mga pinagbabawal na dadalhin, lalong-lalo na ang baril, bladed weapons and illegal drugs,” Chief Supt. Albayalde said. “Of course, meron po tayong mga K-9 sa ating mga bus terminals, kaya ‘wag na ‘wag tayong magdala ng kung anumang pinagbabawal.”
[Translation: We would like to remind our commuters of things that you’re not allowed to bring, especially firearms, bladed weapons and illegal drugs. Of course, we have K-9 units at our bus terminals, so we absolutely should not bring anything illegal.]
At the Araneta Center Bus terminal on Friday morning, security officers were carefully inspecting baggage.
The search was so thorough that even a screwdriver inside a bag was confiscated. The officers also refused to let a used portable gas stove inside the terminal because it’s flammable.
Albayalde said they are following proper procedures when conducting these searches.
“Ginagawa natin ‘yan with the permission of the owner and in front ng kung sino ang may-ari,” he said. “Lalo na mamayang hapon, dadagsa ang mga kababayan nating uuwi. This will be conducted on a random basis.”
[Translation: We’re doing this with the permission of and in front of the owner. This afternoon, many of our countrymen will flock to terminals to go home. These search will be conducted on a random basis.]
So far, passengers have no complaints.
“Siyempre po secured na parang wala kang masyadong kaba kasi po may mga pulis” [Of course, you feel secured, as if you don’t have much to worry about because are police present], said Dalia Cabinbin.
“Parang wala namang gulo dito,” said commuter Aniceta Naparan. “OK lang.”
[Translation: It seems that there aren’t any problems here. It’s OK.]
