Bacolod cops gear up for presidential visit

THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has
reserved security forces for the arrival of President Rodrigo Duterte in
 Bacolod City during the highlights of the 38th MassKara Festival on
October 20.

Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, acting director of BCPO, in a press
conference held at the Joint Operations Command Center in the old City
Hall on Tuesday, said the security for the President's arrival is part
of their contingency plan.

“We are ready in case they need support for additional security,” Wanky
added.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas
confirmed Duterte's arrival in the city during the opening of the
festival last Sunday.

Last year, Duterte officially opened the MassKara Festival at the public
 plaza.

It will be his second visit in the city for MassKara Festival.

Meanwhile, Wanky said the city police force intensified its visibility
patrol, particularly in the two festival sites, including the public
plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will provide a "moving jail"
for those who will be caught violating any law during the festivity.

It can accommodate 15 to 20 persons, and can be moved around the
festival sites.

The Bacolod police and augmentation personnel from different law
enforcement units will be fully deployed on October 17 to 22.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office will provide six patrol
cars and additional personnel to augment the remaining policemen in all
10 police stations.

There will be a send-off ceremony for all augmentation personnel at the
BGC to be led by Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, director of Police
Regional Office-6, either on October 16 or 17.

More than 1,600 police, army, reservists and anti-crime volunteers will
be deployed to various areas across the city, especially in the three
festival sites, including the Bacolod Public Plaza, Tourism Strip on
Lacson Street, and BCGC.

The 673 Bacolod police personnel will be deployed, along with
augmentation forces from Police Regional Office-Western Visayas totaling
 250. Others will come from Regional Public Safety Battalion 6, 150
personnel; Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, 100; Philippine
Army, 15; army reservists, 200; and anti-crime volunteers, 250.