MORE than 300 police personnel assigned to cover the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Cebu City were sent back to their headquarters in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor yesterday.
Chief Supt. Prudencio Bañas, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), said they downsized the number of police after the APEC meetings transferred to Mactan.
“Since Mactan is already the venue, we reduced the personnel detailed along Marco Polo, Marriott and Radisson hotels. Some we transferred for augmentation in Mactan,” Bañas said.
Several police personnel from the provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor were deployed in Cebu City last August 19 for the APEC meetings.
He said the APEC will serve as another reference for security preparations in next year’s International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).
Joy Tumulak, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations chief, said the deployment of police personnel helped discipline errant passenger jeepney drivers, who were barred from entering APEC ceremonial routes.