ILOILO City – When Boracay Island is finally closed to tourism activities for six months beginning tomorrow, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is confident there would be no violent resistance from any quarters.
Yesterday, it conducted a whole day dry-run on the identification system (no ID, no entry policy) to be imposed at the Caticlan jetty port in mainland Malay, Aklan.
The jetty port is the jump-off point to Boracay.
“We are in full control of the situation,” said Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Western Visayas police director.
The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) new chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, will be in Boracay today to check the security preparations.
“If there’s a need for adjustments, we will do that before April 26,” said Binag.
Recognized IDs include barangay ID, worker’s ID and any government-issued ID showing the holder’s home address to prove that he or she is a resident of the island or a worker there.
The PRO-6 has deployed 630 policemen in the world-famous island that would be rehabilitated. Soldiers from the Philippine Army and coastguard personnel are assisting them.
Binag said the staff of the Caticlan jetty port would be responsible in checking the IDs of residents go in and out of Boracay.
Some police personnel will be deployed to provide security to them.
“We are closely supervising all police security preparations,” said Binag. “All set na ang ating tao. Nasa kanya-kanyang assignments na sila.”
A total of 138 Civil Disturbance Management personnel would “troubleshoot” should there be challenges to the island’s peace and order, he added.
Philippine Coast Guard – Boracay chief Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica said two ships and six “floating assets” would be patrolling Boracay’s waters.
“We will make sure no tourists or protesters could enter the island,” said Palabrica. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
