For Security reasons: Police restrict Mayor Vi’s public appearances

LIPA CITY — Lipeños may be in for a "dry" celebration of the city’s 59th founding anniversary on Tuesday.

The reason: The mayor, actress-turned-politician Vilma Santos-Recto, may not show up because the police have restricted her public appearances.

Authorities have tightened security in the city, including the mayor’s, following the recent grenade blast in the public market that wounded eight people and the subsequent bomb threats at City Hall.

Senior Superintendent David Quimio Jr., city police chief, said he has advised "Mayor Vi" to avoid public appearances, especially before huge crowds.

"Pinag-iingat ko lang si mayor. Mahirap na baka maulit pa (I just want to secure the mayor. I fear that the incident might be repeated)," Quimio told The STAR.

Santos has acceded to Quimio’s request. In fact, she was a no-show at the Independence Day celebration at the city plaza.

Quimio said Santos may just send the city administrator or other city officials to represent her in public gatherings.

Last Tuesday morning, tension ran high at City Hall when an unidentified man called the city’s tourism office and warned its staff that a bomb was set to explode somewhere in Plaza Independencia.

The caller also claimed that other bombs were planted in the community park and City Hall.

Air Force bomb disposal experts swooped down on the three places but found no explosives.

City administrator Pedrito Dijan said the bomb threats have raised fears but "life has to go on, marami kaming trabaho na dapat tapusin (we have so much work to finish)."

Dijan said preparations are underway for the city’s Foundation Day. "Hindi na namin ito puwedeng iatras dahil lamang sa mga pananakot na yan (We can no longer hold back just because of those threats)," he said.

He, however, requested Quimio to beef up security in the venues of the celebration — Plaza Independencia and the cultural building — and to put up checkpoints on roads leading to City Hall.

Dijan admitted that Quimio had advised him to hold the celebration in another place but he refused since it would be difficult to change plans at the last minute.

"Besides, we have no place to go… They (the police) just have to deploy more security personnel in the area," he said.

Quimio admitted that the Foundation Day celebration would be a security nightmare. "We are undermanned, yes, I admit, and we have a lot of things to adjust to secure this coming big event," he said.

The STAR tried to get in touch with Santos but failed.