PNP oks gun ban for MassKara Festival

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — In a memorandum sent yesterday, PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome approved the total gun ban implementation during the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., Police Regional Office-6 director, said Bartolome signed the temporary suspension of permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) only yesterday morning. The permit suspension will run from October 11 until October 19, the order stated.

With the total gun ban, "only members of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties and in agency-prescribed uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms in the city," said Querol.

The memorandum stated the temporary suspension of PTCFOR is "part of the security preparations to ensure that the celebration of the 2011 MassKara Festival will be free from firearms-related incidents and safe for our populace, as well as tourists."

Querol however noted that all law enforcement officers are prohibited to carry their government-issued firearms when off-duty or not in proper uniform. Regulations like the ones enforced during the election gun ban will also be implemented, he said.

Civilian gun holders will also be warned not to bring their firearms and travelers will be advised to deposit their firearms at ports before entering the Bacolod City area, said Querol.

"We would be putting signage to remind them of the gun ban enforcement. An area will also be designated for licensed firearm holders to deposit their guns. They could have it if they exit Bacolod City or after the gun ban enforcement," he said.

Querol brushed off insinuations about impending threats, which prompted the tightening of security measures for the MassKara. "More than anything else, we want the religious celebration will live up to its purpose and we also want to earn the respect of the revelers," he said.

With the presence of both local and foreign tourists, strict security implementation to ensure more peaceful and orderly festivities is needed. It was gathered that gun ban violators will be charged for illegal possession of firearms and, for civilian gun holders, revocation of their license to possess the firearm/s will also be imposed.

It can be noted that the gun ban was also enforced earlier this year during the celebration of the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan and of the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City.

In another development, the country's top feng shui expert Aldric Dalumpines has invited the public, while in the city for the Masskara Festival this week, to join in a Feng Shui Real Estate Seminar on October 15 at O Hotel.

Dalumpines, deemed a feng shui economist, said he can help one to determine if a lot, a house, a business office or even ancestors' graves are lucky or not, and he assured every one of help to harness the luck of one's surroundings.

Dalumpines also specializes in business damage control and rehabilitation, and guided investment management. He wrote My Hiwagang Go La Salle Feng Shui Greenbook, a book that will be given free to early registrants for the seminar. — With reports from QSB (THE FREEMAN)