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BY RUBY SILUBRICO
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January 17, 2018
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Cops wary of Dinagyang contrabands
ILOILO City – Citing security concerns, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is urging Dinagyang revelers not to bring backpacks during the two-day highlights of the festival on Jan. 27 and 28.
Those with sinister plans could conceal contrabands in backpacks, explained Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, city police director.
Policemen have been ordered to stop those bringing backpacks in their tracks for a thorough inspection and, if necessary, for questioning.
To avoid such inconvenience, revelers better not bring backpacks, said Biñas.
The ICPO expects a record crowd this year because Dinagyang is marking its 50th anniversary.
Last year the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed an ordinance banning backpacks during the Dinagyang as a security measure. However, the city government did not have time anymore to publish it in a newspaper of general circulation – a requisite prior to an ordinance’s implementation – so it was not enforced.
But while there is no backpack ban in this year’s Dinagyang, Biñas said the police would certainly not allow people to bring items that could be used to inflict harm. These include pointed and sharp objects such as barbeque sticks, knives and bolos.
Revelers won’t be allowed to bring glass bottles, too.
Those that would bring these items would be arrested, said Biñas.
“There will be thorough frisking of people,” he stressed.
Dinagyang is also expected to attract drug traffickers. The police have started stepping up antidrug operations.
Biñas reminded people of the weeklong Dinagyang gun ban. It begins on Jan. 23. Except for law enforcers on duty and in uniform, no one will be allowed to carry firearms.
The city government requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) to suspend PTCFORs or permits to carry firearms outside of residence until Jan. 29.
The highlights of the Dinagyang are the Kasadyahan regional festival competition (Jan. 27) and the ati-ati tribes contest (Jan. 28).
PNP’s Director General Ronald Dela Rosa approved the city government’s request.
However, Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6, clarified that the suspension of PTCFORs covered Iloilo City only.
“Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties will be allowed to carry firearms,” he stressed.
Violators will face criminal charges and imprisonment, said Gorero.
Some 5,000 security forces would be mobilized to secure the city for the Dinagyang. Of these, 2,000 are policemen, according to Biñas.
The rest are members of the Philippine Army and force multipliers (some 1,000 students from various universities and barangay tanods, among others).
Priority areas are the five performance areas of competing tribes – Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo provincial capitol, Delgado-Mabini streets, Quezon-Ledesma streets, and Maria Clara area.
Another security preemptive measure is phone signal jamming. Telecommunications companies may be asked again to shut down their mobile phone services on Jan. 27 and 28.
As a security precaution during the 2017 Dinagyang, telecommunications companies were ordered to suspend their mobile phone services.
According to the National Telecommunications Commission and Philippine National Police that issued the order las t year, terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals./PN
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