President Aquino meets with Philippine National
Police for Holy Week preparations
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with members
of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday to go over the security and
safety preparations for the Holy Week.
During a command conference at Camp Crame, PNP
Chief Alan Purisima informed President Aquino that they are on heightened alert
status.
Purisima said the PNP has increased police
presence in places of convergence by deploying public safety forces.
“We have heightened security in malls, bus
terminals, seaports and airports and we have established police assistant desks
in these key establishments,” he said.
He further said the PNP has collaborated with
various private agencies for the deployment of marshals at bus terminals and
bus stops for the security of motorists and commuters.
“Our police community relations officers have
also been intensifying crime prevention awareness measures against burglary and
other crimes against property,” he added.
President Aquino is expected to visit bus
terminals, airports and seaports to personally oversee the security measures
being done by the authorities to ensure an orderly and peaceful Holy Week.
The command conference, which was also attended
by Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, Police Director
Leonardo Espina and other ranking police officials, also discussed the
Philippines’ hosting of the World Economic Forum next month and the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015. PND (jb/rck)
President Aquino, PNP discuss security for World
Economic Forum, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
President Benigno S. Aquino III presided over
the Philippine National Police (PNP) Command Conference at the PNP General
Headquarters in Camp Crame on Monday to discuss security preparations for the
Holy Week and two international events to be held in the country.
The Philippines is set to host the 23rd World
Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia on May 21 to 23, and the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, slated to be held in November 2015.
PNP Chief Alan Purisima reported that to secure
these international events, the PNP has organized a National Security Task
Force, led by Police Deputy Chief for Operations Director General Leonardo
Espina.
Purisima said some 2,378 personnel will be
deployed to protect the delegates who will be attending the events.
He added that the Department of Budget and
Management has procured brand-new hand-held radios, motorcycles and patrol cars
for PNP personnel to ensure a more efficient coordination of all security-related
activities, including terrorist activities.
Purisima further said that the PNP will
construct a monitoring room for at least 200 closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs)
to be installed in various APEC sites in Metro Manila.
For the Holy Week preparations, Purisima assured
the President that all security measures are in place.
The challenges faced by the PNP in criminality,
budget and pensions of personnel were also discussed during the
one-and-a-half-hour conference.
During the meeting, the President posed some
questions, which were addressed by Purisima. He also welcomed questions from
the attendees of the conference. PND (jb)
BIR Chief only doing her job in going after
Pacquiao’s tax obligations—Palace
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner
Kim Jacinto-Henares is simply doing her job as the country’s chief tax
collector with her constant reminders for boxing living legend Manny Pacquiao
to settle his tax liabilities following his most recent victory, the Palace
said on Monday.
The BIR Commissioner was not out to spoil the
fun in Pacquiao’s camp and neither did she intend to lessen the honor he brings
to the country when she reminded the boxer of his tax obligations, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press briefing.
The BIR chief has been criticized, especially
online, after urging Pacquiao to settle his unpaid taxes, which amounts to
P2.56 billion following his latest match.
“She’s very focused on her job and on her
mandate. I don’t quite think she intends to be offensive. She’s just doing her
job,” Valte told reporters.
Pacquiao regained his World Boxing Organization
(WBO) welterweight belt from American Timothy Bradley Jr. during last
Saturday’s (Sunday in Manila) match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
Valte said the BIR has already been talking to
his camp to address the issue.
“Nakikipag-usap naman sila doon sa kampo ni
Pacman kung ano ‘yung mga pwede pang gawin dahil doon sa mga hinaharap niyang
liabilities… We don’t mean to make it hard for Congressman Pacquiao,” Valte
said.
In an article published by the Philippine Star,
Henares said nagging Pacquiao over his tax liabilities was never her intention
and she was only responding to queries from the media.
“Hindi naman ho ako nagre-remind sa kanya,
tinatanong lang ako [ng media]. Kung tama ang gagawin niya, baka wala naman
siyang babayaran sa Pilipinas kasi baka mas mataas ang babayaran niya sa
Amerika,” she was quoted as saying. PND (hdc)
