Dinagyang gun ban to last a week

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ILOILO City – For the 50th anniversary of Dinagyang Festival this month, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is imposing a weeklong gun ban beginning Jan. 23.

Except for law enforcers on duty and in uniform, no one will be allowed to carry firearms.

The city government requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) to suspend PTCFORs or permits to carry firearms outside of residence from Jan. 23 to 29.

The highlights of the Dinagyang are on Jan. 27 (Kasadyahan competition) and Jan. 28 (ati-ati tribes contest).

PNP’s Director General Ronald Dela Rosa approved the city government’s request.

However, Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), clarified that the suspension of PTCFORs covered Iloilo City only.

“Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties will be allowed to carry firearms,” he stressed.

Violators will face criminal charges and imprisonment, said Gorero.

Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission is yet to act on the request for a signal jam of telecommunication networks within a three-kilometer radius of the Dinagyang performance areas during the two-day Dinagyang highlights.

Gorero said the PRO-6 aims for zero crime incidents during the festival.

“For security reasons, we cannot divulge the number of police forces that will be deployed but we can assure the public that there will be enough cops,” he said.

The PRO-6 is using a “whole of government approach” in the security preparations. Gorero said coordination meetings were conducted mainly to realign the policies and guidelines of the government with other stakeholders like hotel owners, security guards of business establishments and volunteer groups, among others.

President Rodrigo Duterte may grace the Dinagyang Festival. Gorero said the PRO-6 has prepared for this.

“The inner security will be the responsibility of the Presidential Security Group while the outer security will be the responsibility of the PRO-6,” he said. 

Last  month, Mayor Jose  Espinosa III said Duterte’s attendance to the festival was “90 percent” sure.

Also, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President “might” watch the Dinagyang ati tribes’ performances.

“He did in Bacolod,” said Roque, referring to the MassKara Festival that the President graced in October 2017.

Once the President has settled at the Freedom Grandstand, the program will immediately start.

“Kon ara siya, ang aton programa will be abbreviated,” Espinosa said.

Except for the President’s, there would be no more speeches so that the tribes’ performances could immediately start.

“Pagpungko ‘ya, national anthem lang, prayer kag I will just declare Dinagyang 2018 open. Tribu (tribe performances) dayun,” said Espinosa.

The most important thing is to showcase the Dinagyang tribes to the President, the mayor stressed.

“Indi da sia gusto mamati sang speech ni Joe III. Kay karun magpa-impress pa ‘ko da, basi malawagan pa ‘ko, kapin pa kon ara kamo (media),” Espinosa told journalists covering city hall. (PNA/PN)
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