Western Visayas protests were peaceful

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) yesterday said protests by various militant and progressive groups in the Western Visayas during the State of the Nation Address earlier this week were generally peaceful.

PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Chief Inspector Joem Malong, said 1,192 police personnel were deployed throughout the region on Monday, comprised of 884 from civil disturbance management contingents, 290 intelligence personnel, and 18 explosives and ordnance personnel.

Malong also said around 2,430 individuals gathered at designated protest areas across the region.

PRO-6 estimated around 1,000 individuals participated in a protest rally held at the Bacolod Public Plaza, with around 800 demonstrating in Iloilo./DGB, WDJ