780 policemen secure UP Cebu grounds for presidential debate

At least 780 policemen were deployed in and around the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu campus to ensure no untoward incident would happen before, during and after the presidential debate, according to Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

Radoc said that of the total police contingent, at least 60 of them were stationed at the UP Cebu High School soccer field located across the street from the main UP Cebu campus.

Supporters of the presidential candidates will watch the livestream of the debate from the soccer field.

Vice President Jejomar Binay (United Nationalist Alliance), Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan), Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Mirian Santiago were each alloted space for 200 supporters who occupy the soccer field where they could watch the debate on a wide screen TV.

Radoc said policemen were instructed to exercise maximum tolerance but should not hesitate to call the attention of supporters who might get rowdy, so as to prevent any tension from escalating.

People who were given passes to enter UP Cebu to watch the debate either inside the Performing Arts Hall, the venue of the debate, or on the open field, where about 1,500 pre-registered audience will be able to watch the debate also on wide screen TV, began arriving at 10 a.m., hours ahead of the second leg of the PiliPinas Presidential Debate scheduled to start at 5 p.m.