CEBU CITY – Authorities have started mapping out security preparations for next year’s Fiesta Señor, the religious aspect of the Sinulog Festival.

CHURCH leaders and officials from various law enforcement agencies discuss preparations for 
Fiesta Señor in 2024. (Calvin D. Cordova)

The Augustinian Friars of Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu announced that Novena Masses will be held from January 11 to 19 while the 459th Fiesta Señor will be on January 29.

The Penitential Walk with Jesus and Opening Salvo will be on January 11  while the Penitential Walk with Mary will be on January 19.

These two foot processions usually draw millions of devotees.

The Fluvial and Solemn Foot Processions of the Venerable Image of the Santo Niño de Cebu will be on January 20.

Next year’s Fiesta Señor has the theme “Santo Niño: Magnet of Love in the Synodal Church.”

The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7), the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Naval Forces Central, and the city government of Cebu assured that necessary security measures will be in place to ensure the peaceful conduct of the religious activities.

“We would assure everybody, just like the previous Fiesta Señor where we held it successfully and peacefully, we will step up our efforts to make it more meaningful. On the part of CCPO, we will maintain our best practices and make the celebration more meaningful,” Police Lt. Col. Jeanette Rafter, CCPO  deputy director for operations, said in a media briefing on Wednesday, November 15.

Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said they deployed at least 19,000 security personnel in last year’s Fiesta Señor.

“We will conduct a threat assessment to determine what will be the appropriate number of security forces that will be needed,” said Pelare.

Security forces will include uniformed personnel and force multipliers.

The PRO-7 will study if there will be a need to impose cellular signal shutdown during the major religious activities.

“Probabilities are signal shutdown, no-fly zone but for now, we cannot determine yet what are the security adjustments,” said Pelare.

One of the common threats during Fiesta Señor is the arrival of pickpockets from Luzon.

“One of the security concerns is the presence of organized pickpockets. We call them organized because they come here in Cebu and will rent an apartment during the duration of their stay here,” said Pelare.

Last year, at least 16 pickpockets were arrested and 15 of them were from Manila, said Pelare.

Pelare called on the public to be vigilant when there are new faces arriving in their areas.

“If there are strangers renting some spaces in your area, report to the police. We have already detected this modus and we will be monitoring these people,” said Pelare.