By Ric Sapnu/Philippine News Agency
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — At least 1,000 policemen will be deployed on Tuesday for the commemoration of the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan and observance of the Philippine Veterans’ Week.
Brig. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) director, said on Monday that the police personnel will come from various provincial and city police offices in Central Luzon and the Regional Safety Mobile Battalion.
“They will be deployed to provide security coverage during the events in Bataan and Tarlac,” Coronel said in media interview.
He also said that all roads leading to the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Pilar, Bataan will be secured and manned by police personnel in the region.
“The security and safety of our Vice President Leni Robredo and all the delegates, especially prominent personalities, during the commemoration is our primary concern. Continuous police presence will be conducted as part of our security measure to ensure the safety of our guests and tourists who are also on vacation,” Coronel said.
On April 9, 1942, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers stationed in Corregidor and Bataan formally surrendered to the Japanese army under Lt. General Masaharu Homma.
The prisoners of war were transferred to Camp O’ Donnell, Capas, Tarlac in what would infamously be known as the “Bataan Death March.”
The Dambana ng Kagitingan was built on top of Mount Samat in 1966 in memory of those soldiers.
The shrine’s most distinct feature is a 92-meter Memorial Cross which is made up of marble, steel, and concrete.
At the base of the cross is a sculptural base relief that depicts important historical events and battles in the Philippines.
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