Sinulog policemen to get award, improvements for event pushed

CEBU - The Police Regional Office-7 will be rewarding policemen involved in maintaining peace and order during the Sinulog grand parade last Sunday.

PRO-7 Director Ronald Roderos said he was very satisfied with the performance of Task Force Sinulog 2009, which was headed city police chief Patrocinio Comendador, Jr.

Roderos, however, did not specify the reward to be given.

Police had assessed the event as “generally peaceful” despite the estimated 2.8 million people who trooped to the streets for the grand parade.

Roderos said the “innovative and creative” gun ban policy worked for the city, as it reportedly prevented incidents that could have harmed many civilians.

Meanwhile, after an inspection of Cebu City Sports Center yesterday, Roderos suggested that the Sinulog Foundation Inc. provide more emergency exists and fire ladders at the grandstand to prevent a possible stampede in cases of fire.

The grandstand alone can accommodate up to 15,000 people and it is usually filled to the brim at the day of the grand parade. Final performances of parade contingents happen at the sports center.

Roderos also suggested that guidelines should be placed regarding the flying of helicopters during the grand parade, such that a certain altitude must be maintained to prevent possible accidents.

Roderos observed that choppers last Sunday flew over the city at a very low altitude.

Furthermore, Roderos said it would be better to centralize leadership on the part of the police during Sinulog, so that crowd control and maintenance of peace and order will both be handled by the Task Force Sinulog.

Before, it was the PRO-7 that dealt with matters pertaining to peace and order while the Central Command handled crowd control.   — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)