CEBU CITY – No major untoward incidents were recorded at the start of the dawn Masses or “Misa de Gallo” in Region 7 on Saturday, December 16, the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) reported.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said the start of the annual tradition was generally peaceful.
“As far as peace and security in churches, there were no major issues,” said Pelare.
As part of its security measures, the Cebu city government enforced a curfew for minors that started at 10 p.m. on Friday, December 15.
Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, Deputy City Director for Operations of the Cebu City Police Office, said the enforcement of curfew is to prevent a repeat of previous incidents of youth gangs figuring in troubles during dawn Masses.
Those who were involved in previous troubles were minors who stayed out late drinking alcohol before attending them.
Minors accompanied by parents in dawn Masses are exempted from the curfew, Rafter said.
Rafter said the CCPO has coordinated with barangay officials as part of the measures to secure dawn Masses.
According to Pelare, provincial and city directors submitted their security plans, whose main framework was properly enforced during the first day of Misa de Gallo.
“If there will be changes, we can adjust our security plans because we have what we call contingency planning. But all in all, the first day of Misa de Gallo was very peaceful and hopefully we will be able to carry this out until January,” Pelare said.