Boracay security tightened as closure draws near

Protesters challenge antiriot policemen in this simulation of a violent protest in Boracay Island. Beginning April 26, 2018 the world-famous island resort will be closed to tourists for a much needed rehabilitation. PHOTO BY LT. RAMIL PALABRICA, PCG CATICLAN

ILOILO City – Some 200 personnel from the Philippine Army (12th Infantry Battalion) and Philippine Navy are helping the police ensure peace and order in Boracay Island which will be closed to tourists starting April 26.

However, Brigadier General Pio Diñoso, commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade based in Dingle, Iloilo, played down their presence in the world-famous island resort.

“The island’s closure is more of an environmental issue, not a security one,” he said.

He described the island as relatively peaceful.

“We do not want this to escalate to a security one. We do not foresee security problems,” said Diñoso.

He, however, did not discount the possibility of “minor incidents.”

The peace and order situation on Boracay during the six-month closure for rehabilitation would determine how long the military’s presence in the island would be, said Diñoso.

The island resort’s closure may drive displaced laborers to engage in illegal activities such as drug pushing for easy money, according to the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

PRO-6 deployed 630 policemen to Boracay.

Aside from drug trafficking, there could be a surge in robbery and theft cases, said Senior Inspector Kenneth Bermejo, RDEU chief, because “not all displaced workers in the island may be able to find jobs.”

Diñoso said the deployment of some soldiers in Boracay won’t affect security operations in the Army’s area of coverage.

The 301st Infantry Brigade covers the provinces in Panay and island province of Guimaras./PN

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