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[av_heading heading=’Securing Ati-Atihan ‘a big challenge’ – Aklan police head ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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KALIBO, Aklan – Acting director Senior Superintendent Lope Manlapaz of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) said having “zero major crime incidents” during the Ati-Atihan Festival next year is “a big challenge.”
Manlapaz thus appealed to the stakeholders to support APPO’s anticrime campaign during one of the most-visited festivals in Western Visayas.
Ati-Atihan Festival – considered the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals” – will be from Jan. 12 to 21 in this capital town, according to organizer Kalibo Santo Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi)
Aside from Kalibo, the festival is also celebrated every January in other municipalities in the province such as Malay, Ibajay, Batan, Malinao, and Makato.
“[The] festival is a big challenge for the police units and partner agencies to achieve zero major crime incidents,” said Manlapaz.
Site Task Group Ati-Atihan 2018 presented the festival security plan to Mayor William Lachica and the Kasafi members led by their chairman Albert Menez during a security conference on Dec. 16.
Security measures will include the deployment of outer border security forces in Nabas and Altavas and inner border security forces in New Washington, Banga and Numancia.
Members Philippine Army will join APPO personnel in manning the areas.
Manlapaz said uniformed policemen, emergency responders, force multipliers, and the Army will also be deployed to performance areas, police assistance centers and roads.
Senior Inspector Honey Mae Ruiz of the Kalibo municipal police station said 19, police assistance centers will be put up in strategic locations in the town to ensure the safety of revelers during Ati-Atihan.
Ruiz added that they will set up pedestrian screening areas and elevated observation posts, too.
In January this year, the security forces recorded 35 incidents of physical injuries and theft in the festival zone. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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