Police: Grand parade was "very peaceful"

Cebu - Police have assessed as “very peaceful” yesterday’s grand parade, the culminating event of the 2009 Sinulog festivities.

“Very peaceful... everything is in place,” Roderos said yesterday, adding that there was no untoward incident recorded, as far as the conduct of the Grand Mardi Gras was concerned.

At least 1,700 police personnel were deployed in different areas of the city yesterday, supported by about 10,000 students of ROTC that were guarding the parade route. 

Likewise, Roderos said 1,500 members of the Barangay Intelligence Network helped in maintaining peace and order. Barangay tanods were also roving their respective barangays.

Early yesterday afternoon, however, a 27-year-old man was found dead in his residence in Tupas Street, barangay Sawang Calero.

The brother of Ronaldo Canoy, 27, said the latter committed suicide by hanging himself using a rope inside his room. He was found about 2:30 p.m.

Earlier in the day, Canoy reportedly became upset when their parents did not permit him to go with his friends to watch the Grand Parade.

Their parents were reportedly worried that the victim might get himself in trouble while in the streets.

Canoy’s family rushed him to the Cebu City Memorial Medical Center but he was declared dead on arrival. — Niña Chrismae Sumacot and Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)