BACOLOD CITY– An additional 410 personnel of Police Regional Office (PRO-6) from Iloilo City were deployed here Thursday to augment the security forces during the 38th MassKara Festival that euns until October 22.
President Rodrigo Duterte will grace the festival’s final day on Sunday during the barangay arena dance competition at the Bacolod public plaza.
Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of PRO-6, announced in a press conference Thursday that security measures for the President’s visit are already in place, adding that there is no problem in the major security framework.
City Administrator John Orola also said that security preparations for the arrival of the President are “100 percent ready.”
He said the city officials finalized the preparations Thursday with the personnel of Presidential Management Staff, Bacolod City Police Office, and PRO- 6 during a meeting at the Bacolod Government Center.
“President Duterte will arrive anytime (on Sunday), and we expect him to close or at least witness the closing day of MassKara Festival,” Orola said.
The 410 policemen augmented the 4,365 security forces, including 1,481 from the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 2,884 from other law enforcement agencies and anti-crime volunteer groups.
All in all, the Task Group MassKara has deployed 4,775 security personnel for the festival highlights.
Augmentation groups include an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from PNP national headquarters and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.(PNA)
