PNP says Holy Week ” generally peaceful”

April 20, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Saturday said the observation of Holy Week is “generally peaceful”.

“As of today, the PNP under the leadership of Police General Oscar Albayalde is happy to announce that the situation in the entire country is generally peaceful and orderly,” Police Colonel Bernard Banac, the PNP spokesperson, said in a TV interview.

Banac said there were no major incidents but 30 died from drowning and vehicular accidents since the start of the PNP Operation Summer Vacation.

“There are no reported major crisis, calamities, or emergency except for drowning and vehicular accident… We have recorded a total of 30 deaths due to drowning and eight deaths due to vehicular accidents,” he said.

He added the PNP will release their final assessment on Monday as they hope these incidents will not increase as the country ends its observation of Holy Week on Sunday.

“Majority of these (incidents) happen in Region 4A (Calabarzon) and majority are in swimming pools and (incidents in) Region 7 (Central Visayas) in beaches and seawater… The vehicular accidents happened in major highways,” said Banac.

“So we remind our public to be careful and mindful of their safety when they go out for swimming and even for those who are still travelling to be careful so they will avoid any of these vehicular accidents and drowning,” he added.

Banac said tight security measures remain in place as Holy Week is not yet over and the PNP is preparing for the midterm elections on May 13.

“The security preparation remains in effect as the Holy Week is not yet over and by Monday. We’ll make a final assessment of the Holy Week rites,” he said.

He also said they have not received any threats from suspected terror groups.

“We maintain our security because we don’t want to take any chances,” Banac added.

He reiterated Metro Manila remains on full alert while the rest of the country is under heightened alert.

PNP deployed around 99,000 personnel all over the country as part of their security measures for Holy Week. Ella Dionisio/DMS