By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A contingent of cops from Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) arrived, yesterday, to reinforce the 4,273 personnel deployed for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Bacolod.
Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) spokesperson, Police Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, said the contingent is comprised of Civil Disturbance Management Units (CDMU), more commonly known as anti-riot police.
Following their arrival at the Bredco port, yesterday afternoon, the units were turned over to Regional Police Public Safety Company (RPPSC) commander, Police Senior Superintendent Thomas Martir.
Vargas confirmed they are expecting several protest rallies from militant groups while the ASEAN meeting at the SMX Convention Center is taking place.
She said militants are claiming they have around 5,000 people who will participate in rallies at the Bacolod Public Plaza, although both police and militant leaders have already met, in which the militant leaders agreed on having a peaceful program, while the cops will allow them to air their sentiments to ASEAN delegates.
“We will exercise maximum tolerance on the protesters,” Vargas said.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) spokesperson, Police Superintendent Noel Polines, also made an appeal to militant groups to be responsible and air their sentiments in a peaceful manner.
He has also asked them to conduct their rallies at the designated area only to avoid any violent confrontations with police./WDJ