Tourists and workers in Boracay recently expressed apprehensions over the presence of anti-riot equipment at the resort destination, ahead of the planned deployment of anti-riot police.

“Do you really think this is how violent we are?” Denz Dioscori asked on Facebook yesterday.

At least 300 shields arrived on the island yesterday, with 610 police officers expected to be deployed for the scheduled April 26 closure.

“This to ensure the smooth, peaceful, and orderly rehabilitation of Boracay,” said Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag.

He also appealed for full cooperation.

“Any steps to interpose would prolong the process and would defeat our goal,” the PRO-6 chief added./WDJ