Cops in Boracay banned from sleeping in establishments

BORACAY ISLAND -- All policemen deployed here are not allowed to sleep in any of the establishments during the island’s six-month closure and rehabilitation.

This was the order of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde to his men during his visit here Thursday.

“They should not sleep or enter the establishments. Even if they will be offered to sleep inside, they better sleep at the shore,” he said during a press conference.

Albayalde said his instructions would prevent any accusation against his men.

“There might be things that will be lost inside (the establishments), and the policemen might be blamed for that,” he added.

Albayalde said policemen deployed to the island are only allowed to sleep in the tents provided them. “They do not need to sleep anywhere else, especially (since) there are hotels that are due for demolition,” he said.

Based on the general assessment on security, Albayalde said that “everything is going on smoothly and peace and order is generally peaceful” and there has been no resistance received so far.

With hundreds of police forces deployed on the island, “it is better to be over-killed rather than underestimate the situation,” Albayalde added.

“We expect that if we will not secure the area properly, there will be looting and there will be robbery in the establishments here. We are securing the lives and properties, it is not the island actually,” he said.

Albayalde estimated that 600 policemen have been deployed to the resort-island, supported by nearly 200 men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Navy, plus another 100 from the Philippine Coast Guard.

The police chief said a number of individuals were caught swimming in prohibited areas during the first day of closure on Thursday.

However, he said they were just advised to transfer to the designated area for swimming located at Station 1 of the island, or 150 meters from both sides of Willy’s rock.

“They followed (our instruction). They understand fully,” he said.

Albayalde added that the Philippine Navy has assured that no boat or vessel could enter all 16 entry points around the island due to the “one entry, one exit” policy. (PNA)