Extend ‘tour of duty’ of Boracay police task force

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Aklan has recommended for the extension of Metro Boracay Police Task Force (MBPTF) operations for the next two years. 

PHOTO BORACAY PNP

Chief Inspector Ruel Fermo, chief of Malay municipal police station, sought the recommendation of Malay Sangguniang Bayan members to retain the police task force for security and safety of residents and tourists.

The police task force ensures the inner and outer border control security in Boracay Island and nearby islands before Boracay Island was temporarily closed to tourists.  

“Hindi lamang sa opening at rehabilitation ng isla, pati sa incoming local elections din para sa security ng isla at Malay. Baka hindi macover ng Malay police station ang security na kasalukuyang ginagawa ng MBPTF lalo na sa inner and outer control security pag walang task force,” Fermo added.

MBPTF is assessing the situation for possible ‘withdrawal’ of personnel after the re-opening of Boracay Island.

Fermo said the police task force is ‘protecting the island from the outside to be more secured’. The task force deploys more than 600 personnel also in police community assistance centers, beach and foot patrols and traffic.  

The task force is augmented by five community police assistance centers and mobile patrol units.

MBPTF under the command of Senior Superintendent Jesus Cambay, Jr. has played a major role in protecting the island’s image as a safe place to stay for travelers and residents.

The police force has envisioned for a highly capable, tourist-oriented and world-class task force responsive to current and emerging security challenges. 

According to Fermo, at least 70 individuals were apprehended for violating the one-entry one-exit policy, illegal and authorized entry of boats during the period of closure.

With this development, the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) also plans to relocate the existing Malay police station, which spearheads the MBPTF anti-criminality campaign, from mainland Malay to Boracay Island. 

Once relocated, the police station in Boracay Island will be renamed Malay Municipal Tourist Police Station to secure the three barangays of Yapak, Manoc-Manoc and Balabag. 

The mainland police station will be converted into a community police action center to cover 14 barangays in Malay.

Boracay Island will re-open on October 26 after President Rodrigo Duterte closed the island for six months to address environmental woes.