The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) has directed its forces to maintain tight security measures in anticipation of the influx of tourists and Boholanos based outside the province for the Christmas season.
According to BPPO director for operations Supt. Lorenzo Batuan, police were placed on alert since 200 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) delegates arrived Sunday for a five-day conference.
Police have been deployed in primary tourist destinations such as the resort town of Panglao and Chocolate Hills and also in other key areas such as ports, terminals, malls and vital installations.
The BPPO’s goal is to mitigate the expected rise in criminal activities during the Christmas season, he said.
According to Batuan, they have strengthened the BPPO’s “patrol beat system” by enlisting the aid of barangay tanods (village watchmen) and other force multipliers in maintaining peace and order.
The BPPO also called on the public to be vigilant and to report suspicious individuals and activities to authorities as some police stations are undermanned particularly in remote areas of the province. (RT)