PALO, Leyte — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) will deploy 300 police personnel to Cebu City to augment security operations for the upcoming 461st Fiesta Celebration of Señor Sto. Niño and the Sinulog Festival 2026.

PRO 8 regional director P/BGen. Jason Capoy said during a send-off ceremony on January 13, 2026 that the augmentation force will be part of the overall security deployment, crowd management, and emergency preparedness and response operations for one of the country’s largest religious and cultural gatherings.

The contingent is composed of four Police Commissioned Officers and 296 Police Non-Commissioned Officers drawn from various PRO 8 units.

These include 54 personnel from the Leyte Police Provincial Office; 60 from Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office; 20 from the Tacloban City Police Office; 20 from the Ormoc City Police Office; 20 from the Biliran Police Provincial Office; 20 from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8; 105 from the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division 8; and one from the Regional Headquarters Support Unit 8.

The deployed personnel are expected to render duty for eight days, subject to operational requirements and further instructions from higher headquarters.

Capoy said the inter-regional deployment reflects the Philippine National Police’s commitment to maintaining public safety during major celebrations.

“I place my full confidence in each officer and expect them to serve with honor, discipline, and unyielding resolve. I urge everyone to remain vigilant, uphold professionalism, and support one another as they ensure the safety of all during this historic celebration,” he said.