Albayalde: Refrain from posting on social media when spending Holy Week in other places

April 10, 2019

Philippine National Police General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday reminded the public not to post online their whereabouts if they are spending their Holy Week away from home to prevent crimes, such as robbery.

“If ever we will leave our home, let’s not post it on social media,” Albayalde said in a television interview.

By posting online, those who have bad intentions may commit crimes such as robbery, he said.

“And if we are not home, let’s inform those we trust to check and if there’s none, ask your neighbors. Make sure your doors and windows are locked," he said, adding that the appliances should also be unplugged in order not to cause fire.

Albayalde said the giving out of precautionary measures was part of the PNP's Oplan Summer Vacation (Sumvac) 2019 as around 77,000 cops have been deployed in major places, including transportation hubs nationwide.

In a statement, the National Capital Region Police Office said it deployed more than 11,500 police officers to secure the public, including local and international tourists visiting Metro Manila this summer.

NCRPO said summer vacations for students have started and is expected to end on June 3.

During this season, various activities are being observed such as Lenten Season, Philippine Veterans Week, Araw ng Kagitingan, Labor Day, National Flag Day, Flores de Mayo, and fiestas, it said.

These activities draw huge numbers of people in places of convergence like malls, churches, recreational areas, tourist destinations and areas of transport services like the MRT, LRT, bus terminals, airports and seaports, it added.

NCRPO Regional Director Major General Guillermo Eleazar said aside from the full alert status, he ordered all district directors and station commanders to focus on the enhanced managing police operations strategy, maximum police presence, establishment of Police Assistance Desks and Tourist Police Assistance Desks and other preemptive measures while the public observes the Lenten Season.

The NCRPO also coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Local Government Units (LGUs), force multipliers, volunteer groups and other concerned agencies in the conduct of anti-criminality operations; target hardening measures; traffic management/direction and control other related police public safety services to ensure the safety and protection of the public and their properties

“The NCRPO will be in full force in doing our duty to secure and protect your vacation,” Eleazar told the public.

“I’m asking for the public’s cooperation to follow the law for us to experience an untroubled and peaceful vacation,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS