ILOILO City — Western Visayas police are entering the holiday season on an all-hands, no-leave footing, with the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) allowing officers only brief “holiday breaks” instead of regular leave as security operations intensify across the region.
The stricter posture signals a stronger operational angle this year: police visibility, mobility, and rapid response will take precedence over the usual year-end leave privileges amid the expected surge of crowds in churches, transport terminals, commercial areas, and holiday events.
PRO-6 director Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan said the break system is designed to let officers spend limited time with their families without compromising deployment requirements.
“We are allowed to go on break. They already have their break, so there is no need to file leave. They can just use the break days to spend time with their families,” Ligan explained, noting December’s heavy police workload.
Full leave approval remains suspended to ensure maximum manpower during what is traditionally one of the busiest months for law enforcement.
“This is one of the busiest periods of the year. Visibility and preparedness are crucial, so we need all personnel ready,” he stressed.
The regional directive mirrors long-standing national policy: all Philippine National Police units halt leave approvals during the yuletide season to guarantee round-the-clock coverage.
Despite the restrictions, Ligan assured that PRO-6 is fully staffed and positioned to maintain peace and order throughout the holiday rush./PN
