CEBU CITY – The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) said that security measures are in place for the “Sinulog sa Carmen” on Sunday, Jan. 22, in Carmen town, northern Cebu.
Lt. Col. Mark Gifter Sucalit, CPPO deputy director for operations, said at least 600 policemen will be deployed during the event.
Sucalit said the CPPO will no longer request for additional personnel from the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas as anti-crime volunteers and the
Provincial Mobile Force Company have been tapped for security.
The CPPO has also coordinated with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and rerouting will be implemented, Sucalit said. “The re-routing plan is already in place so that our motorists will not be inconvenienced during the festival.”
Sucalit said one of the security concerns that police are anticipating is the possibility that pickpockets will take advantage of the influx of visitors.
This year’s 50th Sinulog sa Carmen could be the biggest yet as there will be close to 30 contingents participating in the annual festival.
Among those competing are the 10 contingents that backed out from the Sinulog Festival here last week. There will also be contingents from this city in the Sinulog sa Carmen.