Security plan in place for 'summer'

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Police Office has set in place “Oplan Summer Vacation” in preparation for the upcoming Lenten Season and the summer season in general.

Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said securing bus and jeepney terminals, ports and 233 tourist destinations is a major part of the security scheme.

Police sub-task groups will man public assistance centers in areas that tourists are expected to flock, including Bantayan Island, San Remigio, and Sta. Fe town in the northern part of the province, three places frequented both by local and foreign tourists during Holy Week.

“Kasagaran basta Holy Week anhi gyud ni aning dapita nay daghang tao so i-secure gyud namo ang lugar,” he said.

In the southern part of the province, police will secure resorts in various towns, as well as Minglanilla town during the Kabanhawan Festival.

As a preemptive measure, Comendador urged the public to always secure their houses when they go out for a vacation and to avoid bringing jewelry. He also advised vacationers to avoid entertaining suspicious persons and to coordinate immediately with the police when they experience such situations.

Insp. Allan Cuizon, chief of the Crime Scene Investigation, said they have started training individuals who are interested to become part of the Barangay Peace-Keeping Action Team.

“Since sa kadaghan sa tao dili ingon na malukop sa pulis tanan BPAT will serve as force multipliers,” Cuizon said.

So far, there are about 40 BPAT members in Sta. Fe and about 80 in San Remigio.

During yesterday’s command conference, Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, PRO-7 deputy for operations, directed all city and provincial police directors to present their own action plans for the upcoming Holy Week and summer vacations.

This way, Oppus said, security plans are tailor fit for a specific area, based on the police’s assessment.

“I want them to do their best to make this year’s summer vacation, which will start this Holy Week, a peaceful one,” he said. 

Security, Oppus said, would involve police patrols, intensified police visibility at terminals, piers and other areas where people converge like parks, and malls, among others.

Oppus said that under the leadership of PRO-7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr., almost all police stations in the region had enough men for their respected areas of responsibility.

“PRO-7 has augmented the minimum number of policemen of 21 personnel covering 99 percent of all police stations in the region,” he said.

Last week, the Directorate for Integrated Police Office in Central Visayas started its random inspection of the various establishments to check its security measures.

Similar inspections will also be conducted in other establishments in Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. This as PRO-7 and DIPO expects the influx of local and foreign tourists for the summer vacation.  (FREEMAN)