CEBU CITY – Close to 2,000 security personnel will be deployed for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival on Sunday, August 25, at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
CONTESTANTS of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen are introduced to the public in a mall in Cebu City on Wednesday, August 21. The crowning of the Festival Queen will be one of the highlights of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival on Sunday, August 25, at the Cebu City Sports Center. (Photo courtesy of Sugbo News)
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said security will be tight not just in the city but also in provinces in Cebu due to the long weekend.
With Friday and Monday declared as holiday for the observance of the Ninoy Aquino Day and National Heroes’ Day, respectively, Pelare said security will also be tight in tourist spots as a large volume of people is expected to go on out-of-town trips.
Pelare said 1,700 personnel from the PRO-7, provincial and city police offices, Regional Mobile Force Company, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, and Bureau of Fire Protection will secure the festival that will be participated by 51 contingents representing the various towns and cities of Cebu.
Civilian force multipliers will also be utilized to help secure the event, which will also be witnessed by a Russian delegation.
“The specific instruction of our regional director is to make sure that everything will be alright as far as security is concerned,” Pelare said.
To make sure that everything is in order, Police Col. Antonietto Cañete, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, led the conduct of a walkthrough on Friday, August 23.
Cañete led the inspection of the festival route from the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds to the CCSC.
Personnel from the Cebu City Transportation Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, and Cebu Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office joined the inspection.
Police Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, deputy city director for operations of the CCPO, said that close to 2,000 policemen will be deployed as early as 6 a.m. on Sunday.
Major roads in the uptown area will be closed to traffic starting at 9 a.m.
Macatangay said all police forces in Cebu have been on full alert since Monday, August 19.
She said the CCPO is appealing to the public to cooperate to ensure a smooth conduct of the festival.
Those who will watch the festival at CCSC are prohibited from bringing bladed weapons, sharp objects, and alcoholic beverages.