ILOILO CITY – Safety and security arrangements for the highlight of the Dinagyang Festival on Sunday are in place, police said.
Senior Superintendent Wesley Barrayuga, city police chief, told The STAR yesterday that he has formed Task Group Dinagyang to handle the peace and order situation during the annual tourism event, which is highlighted by a competition of different tribus (tribes) on Sunday morning.
Barrayuga said at least 6,000 security personnel will ensure that the revelers and Dinagyang participants are safe.
Of the security contingent, 700 are police officers and the rest are barangay tanods, police interns, members of civic radio groups, and cadets of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) and Reserve Officers’ Training Course (ROTC).
Barrayuga said the number is enough to maintain peace and order during the festival, adding that they will not only be on the lookout for criminal elements but will also remind the revelers not to be lax with their security.
“Our aim here is to prevent crimes from happening, and what is important is police visibility,” he said.
VIPs will be secured, while bomb experts and K-9 units will be deployed to the four judging areas, he added.
Barrayuga said they have put up three police action centers in the city proper, equipped with telephones and first aid equipment.
Mobile police teams will patrol the area and conduct random security checks, he said.
Container vans to be placed in certain areas will serve as detention centers for rowdy revelers.
Barrayuga has requested the provincial police to put up checkpoints on the city’s boundary.
Police are also checking boarding houses for suspicious characters. Barrayuga said snatchers and robbers go to Iloilo City after the Ati-Atihan and Sinulog festivals in Kalibo, Aklan and Cebu City, respectively, and might stay in these boarding houses.
Barrayuga reminded revelers to be security-conscious, secure their houses against burglars, bring just enough cash, and not to wear expensive jewelry.