Ilocos region cops under red alert for 'Simbang Gabi'

CAMP OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union – Police in the Ilocos region have been placed under red alert for “Simbang Gabi” (dawn Mass) and the rest of the holiday season.

"It is our tradition at the beginning of Simbang Gabi that our police officers are alert in the churches, so I have given a directive to the provincial directors to conduct the police deployment on this day," Brig. Gen. John Chua, Police Regional Office-1 chief, said.

Chua said all police leaves and privileges are suspended starting Dec. 16 as part of heightened security measures for Christmas.

He has also ordered the deployment of police officers to secure people and manage traffic in tourist destinations in Ilocos during the festive occasion.

“I also ordered the deployment to high tourist destinations and the police force will serve as tourist cops to tourists and vacationers in their destinations and watch over the festivities," Chua said.

Meanwhile, the PRO-1 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the provincial government of Ilocos Sur and the Department of Tourism for the establishment of a Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) in high tourist destinations in the province.

Chua said the MOU guides the police protecting every tourist going to the province.