CEBU, Philippines - At least 6,000 policemen will hit the streets in Central Visayas starting today, Palm Sunday, to ensure peace and order during the observance of Holy Week.
“We will start deploying beat patrols sa mga bus terminals,” said Police Supt. Arnel Banzon, deputy chief for administration of the Cebu City Police Office.
In Cebu, cops will keep a close eye on areas where crowds are expected to gather like in sitio Banawa in Barangay Guadalupe for the Station of the Cross, the stretch from San Nicolas Parish to the Guadalupe Church for the Buhing Kalbaryo, and Minglanilla town for the Sugat Kabanhawan.
Tourists are also expected to flock to Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island. Security in churches, wharfs, bus terminals and airports will also be heightened.
Chief Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas of the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division -7 said the alert status was raised since March 16, the start of the vacation period, and will remain until the third quarter during the start of classes.
“Our preparation is not just for the Holy Week. Sugod gyud ni sa summer vacation, apil na ang holidays, mga fiesta sa Mayo hangtod sa opening of classes,” he said. — JMO (FREEMAN)