ILOILO City – The 2022 Dinagyang Festival was generally peaceful, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
No major incidents occurred from the opening salvo on Jan. 14 to Jan. 23 when the city government streamed the competing tribes’ performances on Facebook, said Police Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson.
“Actually ang aton focus health protocol violators kay indi mapunggan ang pagtipon-tipon nila even if we are under pandemic Alert Level 3,” said Sangrines.
City cops focused in Mandurriao district where more people gathered because of the food festival.
“Pinangtabog sang pulis and mga tawo kag pinapuli. They were also warned nga kasohan sila kun indi magtuman sang mando kay clear violation ang pagtipon-tipon,” Sangrines added.
She was referring to a “food expo” that attracted hordes of people at a commercial area in Mandurriao district on Jan. 23.
The expo was not in the official list of Dinagyang Festival events, stressed the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI).
IFFI issued the statement in the heels of criticism that such an event encouraged large gatherings that the national government is prohibiting due to the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic.
On Sunday night, Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered the food expo stopped.
“I am very sorry. I was not aware. As soon as my attention was called on the gathering, I immediately ordered the dispersal of the people,” he said./PN
