Bacolod City – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has approved a four-day gun ban for the 15th Bacolaodiat Festival here.
Brigadier General Rene Pamusmusan, director of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6), issued a memorandum which suspends the permits to carry firearms outside residence during the festivity slated Jan. 31 to Feb. 3.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico said only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and uniformed personnel with official duties are allowed to carry firearms.
Pico added the festival will kick off on Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 but the gun ban will end around 12 a.m. on Feb. 3.
He said the PRO-6 will provide 250 augmentation personnel to secure the festival sites at the Bacolod Government Center and Lacson Tourism Strip.
BCPO chief of the operations Lieutenant Colonel Lester Leada said a total of 800 police officers will also be deployed as the city aims for a “zero major” incident during the celebration.
The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, meanwhile, said it will deploy around 160 traffic enforcers to prevent road problems in the duration of the festivity./PN
