ILOILO CITY — In the aftermath of the recent killing of a Slovakian tourist, police created an anti-vice unit at world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.
“With the summer season, we want to make sure tourists and residents are safe,” said Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Police Regional Office-6 chief.
“We wanted a unit that is dedicated to anti-criminality in Boracay,” said Wanky after presiding over the March 31 send-off ceremony in Camp Martelino, the headquarters of the Aklan Police Provincial Office in Kalibo town.
The Boracay Anti-Vice Unit is composed of 22 police officers led by Police Capt. Larry John Vidal.
They were deployed within three barangays in the resort-island.
The Boracay Anti-Vice Unit aims to curb illegal drugs trade, prostitution, and human trafficking.
“They are more in intelligence-gathering and surveillance,” Wanky noted.
This unit is different from lawmen assigned to the Malay Municipal Police Station which covers the entire town including the mainland.
It is under the supervision of the provincial command under Police Col. Arnel Ramos and is coordinating with Malay police led by Police Lt. Col. Mar Joseph Ravelo.
Wanky assured that authorities are working to solve the case of the Slovakian tourist.
“We are still doing the case build-up,” Wanky added.