PNP to beef up security measures at Batasan

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said Tuesday they would beef up security measures at the House of Representatives following an apparent threat against lawmakers. 

''Yeah. It’s ongoing investigation but we have coordination with the Congress and kay Sir...  may coordination tayo diyan and we intend to beef up also and deploying our canine personnel there,'' Acorda said in a press briefing referring to the House.

Acorda said all possible angles, including political, are being checked by authorities. 

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco told GMA News Online that heightened security measures are still being enforced at the Batasang Pambansa complex. 

Velasco earlier said Congress members, staff, and employees received threats.

“The security has been tightened. So we just want to protect the members of the House of Representatives and staff and employees of the House from any untoward incidents,” he said. 

The House official said the security measures they are now implementing are the same procedures they put in place for the State of the Nation Address of the President.

On Tuesday, Velasco issued a memo which bans unauthorized vehicles in the rear parking area near the Speaker’s office. Additional K9 units will also be deployed in the said area.

The House will also double security patrols at night.

The Quezon City Police District Station 6 shall also provide additional personnel and a standby firetruck.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious individuals or items to avert any untoward incident.—With Tina Panganiban-Perez/AOL, GMA Integrated News