2,000 security personnel to guard Sinulog festival

Close to 2,000 policemen, military personnel and civilian volunteers will provide security to the Sinulog Grand Mardi Gras this Sunday.

Cebu City Police Office acting director Patrocinio Comendador yesterday announced that the carousel route will be manned by security forces from the city police, Central Command and Barangay Intelligence Network with the support from barangay tanods and some volunteer groups.

Although the military personnel will join in providing security to the festival, Comendador said they would only serve under the civil disturbance management because the police will be on top of the security.

He said that the policemen from the different areas in Central Visayas who are on field training would also be detailed during the Sinulog.

Comendador also said some policemen would be assigned to escort each of the warring fraternities, Alpha Kappa Rho and Tau Gamma Phi, to prevent another clash during the Sinulog.

Police have identified Fuente Osmeña and the Foodarama area as two of the critical places of the parade route that would be given full security attention.

Commendador assured that before the Grand Mardi Gras, the carousel route would already be cleared of notorious personalities such as pickpockets.

He said he is yet to talk with the city government about whether the liquor ban will be imposed during the festivity. But he added that if he is to decide, there is really a need to ban the selling of liquor near the parade route. - Flor Z. Perolina