BY MA THERESA LADIAO & RUBY SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – This year’s Holy Week across Western Visayas was generally peaceful.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 director Brigadier General Jack Wanky has expressed satisfaction over the orderly observance, with no major untoward incidents reported.
He added that the regional police has properly managed the influx of people through its strategic initiatives and effective security deployment plan, particularly in churches, pilgrimage sites, and tourist destinations.
“Our deployment of personnel was among the reasons that our Holy Week was peaceful with zero major crime incidents,” Wanky said, adding that everything was mostly serene despite large crowds and commending his men for their efforts.
The police regional director also noted that, amidst the religious observance, the crackdown against illegal drugs has been continuous.
“During the event, we conducted some anti-drug operations that yielded positive results. We received earlier information that illegal drug dealers will have their trade in party places like beach areas, and we were able to prevent [the distribution of] drugs through our successful operations,” Wanky added.
He then recognized the collaboration between the police and the Philippine Coast Guard, Regional Maritime Unit 6, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Meanwhile, Colonel Rhea Santos, director of the Guimaras Police Provincial Office, said that the annual “Ang Pag Taltal sa Balaan Bukid” in Guimaras Island was successful, with no major threats to security arising.
“I deployed around 150 personnel to secure the activity and the public who spent their Holy Week vacation,” Santos said./PN
