MPD to deploy 500 officers in Luneta and Golden Mosque for Eid'l Fitr

At least 500 officers of the Manila Police District will be deployed Monday at the Quirino Grandstand and the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila for the Eid’l Fitr, which marks the closing of Ramadan.

Supt. Edwin Margarejo, MPD public information chief, said the personnel will be deployed as early as 4 a.m. for the prayers which will start at 5 a.m. and end at 9 a.m.

“Influx of religious Muslim personalities are expected to celebrate the festivities and the congressional prayers. We will be deploying more than 500 police personnel,” he said in a press briefing.

Plain clothes officers will deployed as early as Saturday or Sunday to help in intelligence gathering and support special reaction units.

“Aside from that, maglalagay tayo ng advanced command post and, expectedly, siyempre ‘yung traffic situation. Mag-i-issue kami ng traffic advisory siguro by Sunday, at ‘yung ambulance o help units idedeploy din sa area of activities,” Margarejo said.

The MPD expects more than 2,000 people to attend the festivities and congregate at the two venues.

“Last time, more or less, 2,000 ang nagparticipate. So, we expect even more this year,” he said.

The police remains on full alert status, ready to act against any threat although no report of any threat has been received as of this posting.

“Wala po kaming narereceive, subalit magsisilbing hamon ito sa MPD para paigtingin ang police visibility, target hardening at intelligence gathering.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared June 26, Monday, a regular holiday nationwide, on recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and “in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.” — VDS, GMA News