Holy Week: 3,100 officers to bolster Western Visayas security

By Jennifer P. Rendon

In anticipation of Holy Week, Western Visayas will see an increased deployment of police officers.

This year, 3,100 officers are expected to be on duty, a significant increase from the 2,332 deployed in 2023, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has announced.

They would be deployed to recreational parks, resorts and tourists destinations (712); places of convergence like malls, transport terminals, and commercial establishments (650); churches (622); national highways and main roads (302 local cops and 18 personnel of the PNP Highway Patrol Group); other places of worship’s or stations of the cross (187); airports (40 local cops and 153 members of the PNP Aviation Security Group); seaports (85 local cops and 75 members of the PNP Maritime Group); monasteries (36); and areas where there are roads that are being constructed (26).

Additionally, 194 officers from the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) will be mobilized.

Brigadier General Jack Wanky, the police chief of Western Visayas, noted that these deployments will be supplemented by force multipliers to cover a broader area.

“We will cover churches, pilgrim areas and other places of convergence. We have also anticipated the influx of tourists and local residents to troop to resorts and beaches,” he stated.

Officers have been briefed on their roles, including carrying out inspections and intensifying checkpoint operations to maintain a strong police presence during this peak period.

Despite the focus on Holy Week, Wanky emphasized that standard anti-criminality efforts will continue.

Wanky also advised the public to take precautions when leaving their homes unattended—securing locks and unplugging appliances.

Motorists were reminded to ensure their vehicles are well-maintained, particularly if they plan to embark on long journeys.