CHIEF Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas said Wednesday that he ordered all police chiefs in Western Visayas to maximize police deployment especially in public places, where mayors, vice mayors, and other political leaders are present, to thwart possible threats against them as government officials.
This, after Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio town in Nueva Ecija was ambushed by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants while he was on board his vehicle in Cabanatuan City on Tuesday, a day after Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was also shot to death during the flag ceremony.
Bulalacao, in a phone interview with VoxPop Bacolod yesterday, said he also directed policemen to closely coordinate with the mayors and vice mayors to know their whereabouts to also deter possible threats from the rebels.
"I do not want to cause alarm but this is a way to prevent threats on the security of our political leaders," Bulalacao said.
Bulalacao said he cannot deploy personnel as a bodyguard for a political leader because it will deplete the strength of the policemen in the region, he, however, assured them that they are looking after their safety and security.
He also told police chiefs to intensify police visibility patrol in their respective areas.
All intelligence officers in the region were also told to strengthen their intelligence gathering to identify individuals and groups that may have interest on the safety of these politicians, he added.
Based on their monitoring, no areas have been placed under threat for the possible occurrence of the same incident.
Bulalacao, however, said that "such is inevitable especially if there are people who have grudges with the political leaders."
He said these politicians should also be aware and vigilant about their security so that if something is planned against them, they can deter it.
Bulalacao said he has yet to receive communication from politicians, requesting for additional personnel.
He said a politician may request for additional personnel as bodyguard through the Police Security Protection Group in Camp Crame, provided that he can establish on his request the security threat on his life.
"That is our policy that we should follow in the police organization," he added. (GYM)