By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) confirmed they recently deployed its ‘anti-riot’ contingent to Boracay, ahead of the scheduled April 26 closure.

PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Chief Inspector Joem Malong, said the deployment was made as they are expecting “possible trouble” from protesters opposing the closure, along with those planning to sabotage the government’s plan to clean up the island.

Malong said around 140 police officers coming from PRO-6 civil disturbance management contingent will be sent to support the Metro Boracay Task Force, the Boracay Police Substation, and the Second Aklan Mobile Force Company.

Malong said they are hoping for peaceful closure, adding police will exercise “maximum tolerance” for any protesters on the island.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte approved a proposal forwarded by the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Tourism to shut down the island until October./DGB, WDJ