Manila, March 25 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ramped up measures to secure key energy facilities, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s declaration of a national energy emergency.

"We in the Philippine National Police will focus on securing critical energy facilities and in maintaining peace and order. Additional personnel will be deployed in key areas to prevent any disruption or exploitation of the situation," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.

The PNP chief emphasized the need to protect substations, transmission lines and power plants, citing these as vulnerable to security risks during power shortages.

"We will maintain a strong presence in gas stations and energy plants...