Palace hopes for ‘solemn’ Holy Week

Malacañang on Saturday expressed hope for a “solemn” observance of the upcoming Holy Week as it assured Filipinos that security and safety preparations would be in place. (Photo by Luis Ascenso/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

MANILA — Malacañang on Saturday expressed hope for a “solemn” observance of the upcoming Holy Week as it assured Filipinos that security and safety preparations would be in place.

“As we observe the Lenten season, we call on the public and the community for their support and cooperation,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“With everyone’s cooperation, we look forward to a solemn Holy Week,” he added.

Roque said public support could be manifested through everyone’s cooperation in the conduct of safety checks, security checkpoints, compliance with traffic regulations and maintaining complete situational awareness of their surroundings at all times.

He also called on the public to immediately report suspicious characters and unattended materials such as packages, bags and other objects that are out of place.

To date, Roque noted that law enforcement and security personnel have monitored no specific threat but assured that they will not let their guard down.

“As we expect the heavy movement of people this coming Holy Week, we have been gearing up security and safety preparations. Public safety remains our top priority,” Roque said.

He said these include additional deployments in various areas aimed at safeguarding places of convergence, such as transport terminals, churches, malls and other public recreation areas.

This year’s Holy Week will begin on March 25, Palm Sunday, and end on April 1, Easter Sunday.