Sinulog gathers 3 million people

CEBU, Philippines - Except for a few petty crimes, it was a “gene-rally peaceful” Sinulog celebration yesterday, according to the police, who estimated a crowd of 3 million who witnessed the Grand Parade.

Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Police Regional Office-7 director, said that despite the massive crowd yesterday, they still consider it as generally peaceful.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, 800,000 revelers were reported by nine different sectors in Cebu City, but at 5 p.m. yesterday it increased to 3.2 million.

The number of crowd could increase depending on the weather situation, said Gaerlan.

Senior Superintendent Marciano Batiancela Jr., Task Force Sinulog chief, said that they deployed at least 2,600 police officers on the roads.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command also deployed soldiers to support the Cebu City police force and sent at least two tanks, a Simba and a B150, to the PRO-7 headquarters.

Force multipliers, criminology interns, Reserved Officers Training Course, and National Students Training Program students were also deployed on the road to help control the crowd.

But despite the presence of the law enforcers, petty crimes were still recorded at the Fuente Police Station and Waterfront Police Station.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, at least three foreigners, two Czech nationals and a Japanese national, reported that they were victims of pickpockets. Two other victims of pickpockets were also reported at the Fuente Police Station.

At the Waterfront Police Station, four people also reported of losing their things, including former sexy star Barbara Milano, who was reportedly victimized by a salisi gang outside the Basilica past 10 a.m. yesterday.

A burglary incident was also reported in the vicinity of the Basilica wherein unidentified burglars broke into Asian Home Appliance that was discovered around noontime yesterday.  —/ATO (FREEMAN)