THE Philippine National Police yesterday said the National Capital Region Police Office is always ready to activate Task Force Manila Shield, a special group formed to keep peace and order in the streets of Metro Manila during mass demonstrations, after several militant groups threatened to stage more protest rallies in the coming weeks.

"Handa naman tayo," PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said.

The PNP was on heightened alert during the Holy Week. Bartolome said the 17 regional police chiefs were given the discretion to either lower or maintain their respective alert levels depending on the situation.

He said PNP chief Avelino Razon may lower the alert level in Metro Manila to normal anytime today but it is NCRPO chief Geary Barias who will decide if the alert level will be upgraded once the street protests resume. "Pero sa ngayon ay wala naman tayo nakikitang banta, at naging maganda naman ang situation nitong mga nakaraang araw. Walang specific threat. Ang PNP at AFP naman will always perform their mandated task at tuloy lang ang monitoring upang hindi magkaroon ng problema," he said.