ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) deployed 300 policemen to Bacolod City to augment the security at the ongoing MassKara Festival.
The police officers, 20 of whom are police commissioned officers, were welcomed by Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, director of the PRO-Negros Island Region, on Wednesday, October 15.
Composed of personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, and various provincial and city police offices, the augmentation contingent will assist in crowd control, traffic management, and law enforcement operations throughout the duration of the festivities.
“Although Bacolod City is no longer officially part of the Police Regional Office 6, I want to make it clear that our support for this beloved city remains steadfast and unwavering. We live by the principle that as police officers, we are ready and willing to be assigned anywhere in the Philippines where our service is needed,” said Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, PRO-6 director, during the sendoff ceremony yesterday at the PRO-6 parade ground.
Ligan also reminded his men to observe the dos and don’ts while on duty.
“No drinking of liquor, no using of phone or even reading of newspaper, and no gambling when you are performing your duty,” he said.
Earlier on September 30, a total of 1,984 security personnel were deployed across Bacolod, particularly at the four main festival sites, to ensure the safety and security of festival-goers. This includes 1,320 uniformed police officers, 64 personnel from the Bureau of Fire, Philippine Coast Guard, and Armed Forces of the Philippines, 250 force multipliers, 80 rescue and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office personnel, and 270 from the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department.
“We need to deploy more police to the field especially in areas where there are more people. We have to protect the spectators, so I appeal to the people of Bacolod City to cooperate with us to have a successful festival,” said Colonel Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office./PN
