PALO, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) has placed the entire police force in Eastern Visayas on a heightened security status to ensure security and public safety amid plans of militant groups to conduct rallies on President Ferdinand Marcos 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) today.

PRO-8 regional director P/BGen. Jason Capoy said 1,156 personnel were deployed across Eastern Visayas – 592 personnel from various Provincial and City Police Offices were assigned to area security and checkpoint operations, 308 cops on standby for Civil Disturbance Management (CDM), and 101 were designated for covert security and Quick Response Teams (QRT).

He said the deployment of these policemen is part of the security framework implemented by the regional office for the SONA.

Capoy said that apart from these personnel, the regional support units were also been deployed, including 50 personnel from the Regional Intelligence Unit 8 (RIU-8), 38 personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Canine (EOD/K9) Unit, 37 personnel from the Regional Maritime Unit 8 (RMU-8), 27 personnel from the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 8 (RHPU-8), and 3 personnel from the Regional Medical and Dental Unit 8 (RMDU-8).

He said PRO 8 has strategically structured its security coverage for higher public turnout and the possible conduct of public assemblies based on regional trends, while safeguarding public infrastructure and major thoroughfares.

Various militant groups have banded together for the planned big rallies in Tacloban City and Ormoc City with similar mass actions in other cities in the region.

Capoy said PRO-8 will remain on heightened alert status for the duration of the activity, ensuring sustained police visibility, operational readiness, and rapid response capabilities across the region.