BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO AND RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Over 5,000 security personnel will secure the 2023 Dinagyang Festival.
“We’re deploying maximum personnel kasi we have to make sure na zero major incidents. Alam natin maraming tao ang mag–a-attend after two years na walang face-to-face (Dinagyang celebration),” said Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
The deployment includes around 4,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) alone, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, force multipliers, other volunteer groups, and cadets from various colleges and universities.
They will be posted in their specific assignments starting next week to keep spectators and revelers safe.
For today’s opening salvo, over 300 police personnel will be deployed especially in the parade routes, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Rene Obregon Jr., deputy director for operations of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The ICPO requested for force augmentation and it was already granted by the PRO-6, he said.
“May ara kita apat ka grupo – site task group for security, site task group for peace and order, and site sub-task group for emergency preparedness and response, and the additional site task group for public safety. Ini sila tanan maga-combine forces,” Obregon added.
Meantime, the temporary cancellation of the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) started at 12:01 a.m. today until 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 22. The purpose of this is to preempt any firearm-related incidents for the duration of the festivities.
“We are aiming for a zero Dinagyang-related incidents so we need to secure ang safety sang pumuluyo kag pagasugoran naton ina subong nga opening salvo,” Obregon said.
Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies (OLEAs) who are performing official duties and in agency-prescribed uniform shall be allowed to carry their issued firearms for the period.
“We appeal to the public to cooperate and obey with the guidelines in order to avoid firearm related incidents and violation of the said ban. Let us all enjoy the festivity and help each other to achieve a crime-free “Dinagyang Festival 2023” celebration,” added Francisco.
Meanwhile, ICPO director, Police Colonel Leo Batiles, said they will try their very best to provide security and safety for the public to enjoy the festival.
“Sa subong may mga ideas na gid ina ang aton pumuluyo kung ano ang ginatawag naton nga safety measures. Pero ang point naton is remind naton sila. Ma-enjoy kita diri kag we will try over very best nga matagaan ang publiko sang proper security kag safety kag at the same time gapanugyan man kami sa inyo nga maghalong lang kita,” said Batiles.
The police added that men in civilian clothes will also be mobilized to monitor and catch criminals involved in petty crimes and other nefarious activities that could hamper the peace and order situation of the city during the event./PN
