The Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas deployed 2,563 personnel in different churches, malls, terminals and other places of convergence to secure the celebration of the Christmas season.

PRO-8 information officer Police Major Marjorie Manuta disclosed that more policemen were also deployed in the third congressional district of Leyte where there has been a spike of killings in the recent weeks.

"We want to have the public enjoy peaceful and meaningful Christmas celebrations," she said, adding that the biggest number of forces were deployed in Leyte's third district due to its history of violence.

Manuta said the recent killings in Leyte's third district are still under investigation and could not be determined yet whether these are politically motivated.

"We normally deploy more manpower in places where there is a high incidence of crime. We adjust deployment according to the need," Manuta said.