ILOILO City – Dinagyang Festival 2020 was “generally peaceful”, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
It cited its anti-criminality campaign and public safety operations for this feat.
“We achieved our goal which was recording zero major crimes during in the entire Dinagyang Festival,” said Police Colonel Martin Defensor, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director and commander of Site Task Group Dinagyang 2020.
Dinagyang 2020 opened on Jan. 10 with a salvo that served as a preview of the participating tribes’ Jan. 26 performances.
The entire police force was on full alert status during the Dinagyang period that ended on Sunday. Cops were deployed to different areas.
The ICPO recorded just three cases of physical injuries; there were five in the 2019 Dinagyang.
On the other, no cases of theft (snatching, bag slashing, pickpocketing) were recorded.
“The peaceful celebration could also be attributed to the active involvement and mobilization of other stakeholders, partner agencies, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams and other force multipliers,” according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 regional public information office chief.
Yesterday, the police force was honored at the Freedom Grandstand for keeping Dinagyang peaceful.
“I appreciate the efforts of our men and other agencies who helped maintain the peace and order,” said Philippine National Police director Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa who graced the affair.
Gamboa had been here since Friday last week, Jan. 24, overseeing the security preparations. One of the special guests on Sunday was President Rodrigo Duterte’s long-time partner, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña.
For her part, ICPO spokesperson, Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines said there was only one “alarm and scandal” incident but they recorded 40 traffic accidents.
Sangrines also said there were zero incidents on “focus crimes” – homicide, rape, physical injury, theft, carnapping, motornapping, and robbery.
The ICPO utilized 3,300 policemen and around 2,000 force multipliers to keep Dinagyang peaceful.
“The public cooperated with the police. We are thankful that the events finished successfully,” Sangrines added.
One of the goals the ICPO set was to curb if not totally eliminate petty crimes such as snatching and bag-slashing. Information reached it a few days ago that groups of petty criminals were preparing to take advantage of Dinagyang Festival revelers./PN
