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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Sunday, January 22, 2017
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ILOILO City – There are no monitored threats to the security of Dinagyang Festival performers, guests and revelers but telecommunication companies will continue suspending their mobile phone services for the second day today, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The temporary shutdown of the services is a security preemptive measure, explained Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangirnes, spokesperson of the city police.
“We must be one step ahead of whoever would want to sabotage the celebration,” she stressed.
Securing the city from troublemakers are a total of 3,606 police officers.
Just like yesterday, call, text and mobile data services will be unavailable for post and prepaid subscribers of Smart, TNT, Sun, and Globe.
Public safety comes first, said Sangrines, recalling that terrorists detonated improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals in several incidents in Mindanao, including the Davao City bombing in September last year.
Among others, policemen are securing the five judging areas of the Dinagyang tribes and areas where festival revelers usually converge – the San Jose Parish Church, Plazoleta Gay intersection, Atria, SM City Iloilo, and Iloilo Business Park.
The five judging areas are the Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo provincial capitol, Mabini Street, Quezon-Ledesma streets, and Maria Clara area.
It was the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that ordered the telecommunication companies to temporarily shut down their mobile phone services upon the request of the ICPO and Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc.
“We have not received nor monitored security threats. We hope and pray for a peaceful Dinagyang,” said Sangrines.
NTC’s order for the temporary shutdown of mobile phone services for security reasons is not new. This was also observed during the recent Sinulog Festival of Cebu and the feast of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo, Manila.
The ICPO has also tapped Reserved Officers Training Corps cadets of various schools, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, civilian volunteers such as the Guardians and Citizens Crime Watch.
Barangay tanods have been mobilized, too.
“We are temporarily suspending mobile phone services of Smart, TNT, and Sun on Jan. 21 (Saturday) and 22 (Sunday) at the main Dinagyang Festival activity and parade areas in Iloilo City,” read part of Smart’s advisory issued early Friday night.
Yesterday was Dinagyang’s Kasadyahan cultural contest while today is the ati-ati tribes competition.
For Globe, mobile phone signals will be blocked from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Iloilo City Proper, Mandurriao, Jaro, La Paz, and Bo. Obrero.
For Smart, TNT and Sun, mobile phone services will specifically be suspended at Plaza Libertad, Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo provincial capitol; Mabini, Quezon, Iznart, and Rizal streets, Iloilo Business Park, Esplanade 1 and 2, The Atria, Plazuela de Iloilo and SM City Iloilo.
According to Smart, “nearby areas and surrounding municipalities may also be affected if mobile phone signals coming from cell sites servicing these places reach the main festival zones.”
Mobile phone services resume as soon as the telecommunication companies are given the go-signal by the authorities./PN
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