CEBU CITY – Security preparations are in full swing to ensure the peaceful conduct of the Palarong Pambansa that this city will host next month.
EMERGENCY responders carry an ‘injured victim’ during a bomb simulation exercise at the Cebu City Sports Center on Wednesday, June 26. (Cebu City PIO)
Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7), reminded the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to ensure that there will be enough police visibility during the week-long competition.
Aberin visited the CCPO on Wednesday, June 26, to assess the security preparations for the Palarong Pambansa that will start on July 9.
Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, CCPO deputy city director for administration, said the presence of policemen in key areas especially in venues and billeting quarters of the competing regions will help deter crimes.
“We cannot really say that criminals will no longer do what they intend to do but the presence of the police will take away their opportunity to carry out their plans,” said Rafter.
As part of the efforts to safeguard the expected 12,000 participants of the Palaro, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) spearheaded the conduct of a bomb explosion simulation exercise at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) last Wednesday.
Personnel of the Explosives and Ordnance Division, Department of Health, City Health Department, Joint Task Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Visayas Command, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine Red Cross, participated in the drill.
“It’s important that we can see how prepared we are in situations that we call mass casualty incidents,” said Harold Alcontin, chief of CCDRRMO.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Aberin, has announced that over 2,000 policemen will be utilized to secure the Palaro.
Pelare said the PRO-7 will deploy additional personnel depending on the assessment in the coming days.