ILOILO CITY -- Boracay Island has been peaceful during the first week of its six-month closure, according to the Metro Boracay Task Force (MBTF).
Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) Deputy Regional Director for Operations Supt. Jesus Cambay Jr., who is also MBTF commander, said Friday that there has been “no major incident that transpired during the first week of the closure, which started April 26.”
“Our rehabilitation efforts and delivery of services went smoothly and our crime environment is still manageable,” Cambay said.
He said they had been anticipating an increase in crime against property but this has instead gone down significantly to only two incidents within one week.
Despite this, Cambay said they will not reduce their forces, which will focus on fighting criminality in the island in the coming days.
About 600 policemen have been deployed to the island prior to its closure.
The Philippine Army has also deployed some 200 soldiers, including those from the Philippine Navy, while the Philippine Coast Guard has sent about 100 personnel to help secure the island’s entry points that were temporarily closed due to the “one entry, one exit” policy.
Cambay said these personnel have helped in the clean-up drive at the 2.5-km. stretch of the island’s shoreline. (PNA)
Photo by Cindy Ferrer
