ILOILO City – The goal is to keep Western Visayas peaceful as people observe Lent, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Specifically, according to PRO-6 spokesperson Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, they are gunning for a “zero major crime” Holy Week.
“Police deployment actually started last week. We have enough men to secure the public,” said Gorero.
For Lent, the PRO-6 is mobilizing a total of 5,000 policemen.
No one is allowed to take a vacation leave and all police stations have been placed on heightened alert status.
Cops are needed most especially in areas where people converge such as land transport terminals, churches and seaports, said Gorero.
Police action centers have been set up in these areas as part of the PRO-6’s security measures.
Gorero said wharves in Iloilo City and Guimaras have been posted with more policemen. The PRO-6 expects a surge in people crossing the Iloilo Strait for the annual “Ang Pagtatal sa Guimaras” – a reenactment of passion and death of Christ on Good Friday.
Gorero urged the public to cooperate with the police to achieve a peaceful Lent.
This meant, he said, that people should also secure their houses before leaving to mark the Lent elsewhere.
“Make sure your doors are locked and all electrical appliances are switched off and unplugged,” said Gorero.
He also discouraged people from bringing a lot of valuable and huge amounts of money
Acknowledging that it alone could not keep the region peaceful, PRO-6 has linked up with other government agencies such as the Armed of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Office of Civil Defense.
Gorero said municipal police stations were also ordered to tap barangay tanods as augmentation force./PN
