BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has begun drawing up its security plans for the MassKara Festival this Oct. 7 to 22.
Though the festival has always been peaceful, Colonel Noel Aliño, BCPO director, is not leaving anything to chance.
He warned organized crime syndicates from outside Bacolod that they were not welcome.
“Kung mahuli ko kayo, mark my word, may paglalagyan kayo,” Aliño said.
During last year’s MassKara Festival, the BCPO uncovered a theft syndicate and arrested nine members, most of whom originated from Metro Manila.
The criminal group’s cover was blown after one of the suspects was caught red-handed using a stolen credit card to buy items at a shopping mall in the city.
The syndicate, which took advantage of the revelry, managed to cart away a total of P150,000 from various victims before they were dismantled.
According to the BCPO director, they currently have more than 1,000 personnel.
For the festivities, he may seek additional police officers to maximize security at the six major festival sites in the city, which are expecting an influx of foreign and domestic tourists.
The BCPO announced earlier that it would step up its antidrug operations after confiscating P23.12 million worth of shabu in two separate operations last month.
Police believe that the high-value confiscations were a sign that drug operators have begun stocking up their supplies as these will be in high demand during the MassKara Festival. (Watchmen Daily Journal)
