ILOILO City – Christmas celebrations across Western Visayas were generally peaceful, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said.
No major incidents disrupted the people’s observance of Christmas, including the nine-day Simbang Gabi or predawn Mass, according to Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, PRO-6 director.
Miranda lauded local government units and church authorities for helping the police enforce public health guidelines set by the government against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
There were no recorded firecracker-related incidents as well as illegal discharge of firearms on Christmas Eve, he added.
“We are happy that we have zero firecrackers and stray bullets incidents. Natuto na ang mga tao sa pag-celebrate ng Christmas na hindi lang puro paputok but also have food on the table with their families and relatives,” Miranda said.
On Christmas Day, however, PRO-6 monitored cases of physical injuries across the region.
At six cases, Negros Occidental recorded the most number of incidents followed by Iloilo province (three) and Iloilo City (two).
As to the operation against illegal drugs, three persons were apprehended. Police were also able to arrest two individuals possessing improvised firearms.
According to Miranda, maximized police presence, information dissemination, border control, and social investigation helped reduce the crime volume during the Christmas revelry.
A total of 4,524 police commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers were deployed all over the region since Dec. 1.
Miranda assured Western Visayans that the region’s police force remain on full alert status throughout the Yuletide season./PN
