By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — An official of the Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) is hoping that the “Simbang Gabi”, or dawn masses in anticipation of the birth of Jesus in the Roman Catholic churches of the province, will be peaceful throughout the Holiday season.
Supt. Norly Escobar, APPO Director for Operations, said they have yet to receive any untoward report involving churchgoers so far since the start of the Simbang Gabi last December 16.
“So far there is a peaceful observance of the Simbang Gabi in the province,” he said in a press conference.
He added police assistance desks are set up in the vicinity of churches manned by two police officers until it ends on December 24.
Police officers also patrol the church vicinity.
“We also have requested the barangay tanods as police force multipliers to secure the churches in the barangays in all 18 municipalities of the province,” Escobar said.
Margie Gadian, Antique provincial government adviser for Peace and Order and Public Safety consultant, said churchgoers should lock the doors and windows of their residence before leaving for the daily dawn mass.
She added one must avoid wearing precious jewelry that could attract unscrupulous persons.
