Manila: The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) has announced the deployment of over 13,000 personnel across Central Luzon to ensure safety and security during the Holy Week celebrations. This significant increase in deployment aims to accommodate the growing number of travelers, pilgrims, and devotees expected throughout the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, Director of PRO-3, stated in a news release that the personnel increase is a strategic response to the anticipated influx of people in the area. Originally, only 2,000 personnel were assigned for the SUMVAC (Summer Vacation) 2026 period. However, the number has been scaled up to ensure a robust police presence in key locations such as streets, churches, and other places of worship.

Starting March 30, the regional police office will be on full alert status to guarantee maximum police visibility. This initiative includes increased foot and mobile patrols, as well as the establishment of assistance desks in churches, transport terminals, highways, and other areas where people are likely to gather. Additionally, road safety marshals will be deployed to manage traffic flow effectively.

In a separate development, police operations over the weekend led to the arrest of four individuals involved in smuggling activities in Nueva Ecija and Bataan. In Nueva Ecija, three individuals were apprehended during a mobile patrol and Oplan Sita operation by the Cuyapo Municipal Police Station. Authorities discovered boxes of cigarettes without legal transport documents inside a parked vehicle. The confiscated items included 30 master cases of Modern Light cigarettes, valued at PHP690,000.

In Bataan, a high-value drug suspect was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Do±a, Orani. The suspect was caught selling 54 grams of suspected shabu to an undercover agent, with the drugs estimated to be worth Php367,200.