New ‘anti-vice’ squad hits Boracay streets ahead of tourist surge
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MALAY-BORACAY TOURISM OFFICE
ILOILO CITY — A specialized anti-crime unit has been deployed to Boracay Island just in time for Holy Week and summer season, marking a major police shake-up aimed at curbing drug-related offenses and other “vice” activities in one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
Dubbed the Boracay Anti-Vice Unit, the 22-member team under the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) was officially activated on March 31 at Camp Pastor Martelino in Kalibo, Aklan.
The team, led by Captain Larry John Vidal, was tasked with a focused mission to gather intelligence, identify threats, and neutralize criminal operations, particularly those linked to drugs and prostitution.
“They will spearhead campaigns against illegal drugs and related activities,” said Brigadier General Jack Wanky, PRO-6 director, in a press statement on April 1.
Wanky presided over the send-off ceremony for the unit, attended by key officials from PRO-6, the Aklan Police Provincial Office, and the Malay police.
He revealed that forming the unit was not a spur-of-the-moment call.
“It has been in my plans for several months since I have been receiving reports of illegal drugs and prostitution on the island,” he said, adding that he initially gave the Malay Municipal Police Station a chance to address the issue but found their results lacking.
Wake-up call
The recent killing of 23-year-old Slovak tourist Michaela Mickova served as a wake-up call, according to Wanky, who admitted that the incident partly spurred the timing of the deployment.
“This initiative by PRO-6 is a proactive and strategic response to combat illegal activities and ensure the safety and security of Boracay during the high influx of Holy Week and summer vacation,” he said.
Mickova’s body was found in an abandoned chapel in Barangay Balabag, Malay town, Aklan last March 12.
Based on the police investigation, Mickova arrived on Boracay island on March 1 to attend a Filipina friend’s wedding.
Mickova was supposed to fly back to Slovakia on March 11, but when she failed to return to their hotel and remained unreachable, her friend reported her missing to the police.
The victim’s body was later found laid on her back with her legs spread apart.
She wore an upper garment, but it had been rolled up, and her lower clothing was missing.
Police said Mickova appeared to have suffered sexual abuse and blunt force trauma to the head.
The Boracay Anti-Vice Unit will augment the existing strength of the local police which will continue with visibility patrols and routine law enforcement duties.
“This unit, composed of personnel solely dedicated to anti-criminality and intelligence operations, will spearhead campaigns against illegal drugs and related activities. Its primary objective is to actively identify and neutralize criminal threats, particularly those involving drug-related offenses,” Wanky said.
With its eyes on intelligence-driven enforcement, the new unit’s arrival underscores PRO-6’s renewed push to maintain Boracay’s status as a safe and premier global destination.
Wanky said the move also aligns with their broader goal of boosting tourism growth through enhanced security measures.
