Riot police to guard Philippine island on lockdown
Boracay will go on virtual lockdown and will be manned by hundreds of riot police during its closure for rehabilitation.
The government said riot police will be deployed to ensure it remains closed to visitors and to prevent potential protests ahead of its six-month closure starting soon.
It will deploy 600 officers including a more than 100-strong ‘crowd dispersal unit.’
"In any transition, especially for a drastic action such as this, there is always confusion, uncertainties, and low morale," said regional police director, Chief Supt. Cesar Binag.
"What we did was to identify the sources of confusion, sources of uncertainty and sources of low morale that might result in agitation and eventually into a security issue," he added.
Boracay residents will be required to carry new ID cards and entry to the island will be restricted to a single harbour.
Boracay tourism revenues reached $2 billion last year and more than 500,000 visitors came during January to March this year.
Authorities said the planned 2018 Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival will be held as normal on April 19-21, just days before the island’s complete shutdown.
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