MANILA, Philippines — The Wattah Wattah Festival in San Juan City to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist was generally peaceful, a police official said yesterday.
“Our tactical operations center received no report of any untoward incidents during the six hours of basaan or the traditional dousing of water,” Col. Florendo Quibuyen, officer-in-charge of the Eastern Police District, said.
Police said they only recorded one case of theft during the celebration.
Mayor Guia Gomez ordered the use of clean water during the basaan so the residents would not earn the ire of passing motorists.
Incoming mayor Francis Zamora also joined the celebration. He disembarked from a firetruck near the city hall and greeted Gomez.
At least 200 policemen were deployed to secure the event held at the Pinaglabanan Shrine. A liquor ban was also implemented.
Only 16 firetrucks joined the festivities amid the water shortage in Metro Manila.