Cops, soldiers go on Lenten alert
Puertollano
Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are all set for this week's Lenten break with major security measures drawn particularly in Iloilo and Guimaras. The two Western Visayas provinces alongside the island of Boracay in the Province of Aklan have extra peace and order plans in place.
Such as thousands of local and foreign tourists are expected here with special Lenten presentations in Iloilo towns and the internationally-renowned Pagtaltal sa Guimaras. Boracay Island on the other hand has since been the favorite destination during Lent with this week a "high-peak season."
In Guimaras, Senior Superintendent Leo Puertollano, Guimaras Provincial Police Office Director ordered a full police visibility in the event venue, the capital town of Jordan. Orders are up as well on town police chiefs of Jordan and Buenavista to maximize police presence in the town's ports and wharfs.
"Police visibility, full force for us here in Guimaras. Even the traffic will be secured by uniformed police officers with police checkpoints on major entry and exit points of the island," Senior Supt. Puertollano said.
And in compliance with the expected full-alert status of the PNP hierarchy, it would be a no-days-off nor official leave for all police units.
Meantime, seaports and the roll on-roll (RoRo) off terminals throughout the region will be a priority for back-up forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a report, Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Group said these areas are known to be "favorite entry and exit points of criminals, syndicates and drug groups."
"The movements including that of terrorists are through our RoRo terminals avoid easy detection of the AFP. So we are keeping watch now," Captain Marquez assured.