BACOLOD City – A gun ban in this capital city is now in effect.
Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, spokesman of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the request for the gun ban which was supposed to take effect beginning Oct. 8 – the opening day of the 39th MassKara Festival – was approved by the Philippine National Police central office just recently.
The approval was in time for the beginning of the three-day MassKara Festival highlights today.
The ban suspends all permits to carry firearms outside of residence. Only police officers and government troops in proper uniform are allowed to carry guns.
Those who are caught defying the ban will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Aside from guns, deadly weapons – like knives – are also prohibited at the three festival sites, the public plaza, the Bacolod City Government Center and the Tourism Strip on Lacson Street.
Gabana said there will also be signal jamming at the festival venues on Saturday and Sunday.
The signal jamming – which aims to prevent radio-activated bombs – will start at 1 p.m. and end at 9 p.m., added Gabana.
Over 3,000 security and emergency personnel have been deployed around Bacolod since Monday.
Councilor Em Ang earlier this week confirmed that presidential daughter Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will be in the city on Oct. 27 to attend MassKara.
Moreover, City Public Information Officer Danny Dangcalan said President Rodrigo Duterte will be in Bacolod on Oct. 27, not Oct. 28 as previously planned.
Duterte will arrive at the public plaza at 5 p.m., he added.
The President has graced MassKara in the past two years – on the opening day in 2016 and on the last day in 2017./PN
