The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has increased its presence in public markets and supermarkets nationwide to monitor prices of meat and vegetables during the Christmas season.

In a statement, PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said additional personnel were deployed this week to deter hoarding, profiteering, and panic-buying as reports of price spikes continued to surface.

“We have been conducting strategic operations against those involved in any activity that takes advantage of our kababayan this Holiday season in coordination with the concerned government,” he noted.

Nartatez said several police operations are being carried out in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local government units, including monitoring price movements and conducting inspections in marketplaces.

He added that the PNP is supporting these efforts through police visibility in markets and enforcement actions against violators “to help protect consumers and maintain steady access to essential goods during the holiday period.”

Intelligence-driven operations are also underway to identify groups suspected of artificially inflating prices through stockpiling or coordinated supply restrictions, he said.

Nartatez noted that police presence in commercial areas will remain heightened as Christmas Day approaches to prevent disruptions and ensure orderly market operations.