PRO-7 on heightened alert

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office-7 has placed all police stations in Central Visayas on heightened alert status beginning Monday, March 25, for the observance of the Holy Week.

There will be a total of 6,000 security personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and force multipliers who will be deployed strategically to ensure the safety of the public.

They will be stationed in identified places of convergence, worship areas, transportation hubs,

and other areas where people gather.

Some of these personnel were already deployed last week through a skeletal deployment. Additional deployments were done starting yesterday and today. Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, PRO-7 spokesperson, said the full deployment will be done before Holy Thursday, March 28.

Pelare added that the regional headquarters also committed to providing inspection teams or

red teams to make sure that the security plans are followed.

“We are now ready. We would like to assure the public, the population of Region 7, that your

Police Regional Office 7 is now ready,” he said.

Augmentation personnel will also be assigned in Bohol and Negros Oriental. — (FREEMAN)