Tourists safe to visit south Cebu during Holy Week

CEBU, Philippines — Local and foreign tourists are safe to visit the southern part of Cebu this Holy Week despite the fact that foreign countries have not lifted their travel advisories against going to this part of the province.

Superintendent Reyman Tolentin, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, said the tourist police company formed a year ago after the issuance of the travel advisories is still active.

“Especially sa southern part of Cebu, there is one company formed because of that travel advisory. If they will not lift the travel advisory, we will also not dissolve the tourist police company being detailed in the southern portion of Cebu,” Tolentin said.

In July 2016 the United Kingdom, joined other countries and issued a travel advisory to its citizens against visiting Mindanao and parts of Cebu, citing “threat of terrorism to persist,” as a reason.

Other foreign countries which issued similar notices were United States, Australia, Canada, France, South Korea, and New Zealand.

The first to issue the travel advice was the U.S Embassy in Manila back on November 3, 2016, against traveling to the southern part of Cebu.

Tolentin reiterated that there are no direct threats monitored and local and foreign tourists are free to visit the southern towns of Cebu.

He explained that during the Holy Week, the regional command’s high ranking officials are tasked to oversee security plan and deployment of the different provincial police offices.

“Three high-ranking officials of PRO7 will be heading the security supervisions during the Holy Week,” Tolentin said.

Deputy Regional Director for Administration Senior Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag is assigned to Northern and Metro Cebu, Regional Chief Directorial Staff Senior Superintendent Angelito Dumangeng to Negros Oriental and Cebu Province, while Deputy Regional Director for Operations Dennis Agustin is assigned to Bohol.

Tolentin continued that police forces are ready to adjust the deployment and security plans after a coordination meeting with local government units.

“We still have to iron it out.There might be developments so we need to adjust our deployment and security plans,” Tolentin said.

In a related matter, Tolentin revealed that there is no directive yet whether police vacation leave will be canceled for security deployment during Holy Week. (FREEMAN)