Cebu City acting mayor calls on police to raise alert after Leyte town blast
CEBU CITY, Dec. 30 (PNA) — Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has called on the police to be on high alert after a bombing in Hilongos town in Leyte Wednesday evening left 32 persons injured.
Labella said ensuring Cebu will remain peaceful is important because of the forthcoming string of crowd-drawing events in Cebu.
Among them are the New Year’s celebration, the Sinulog festivities and the swimsuit competition of the Miss Universe 2016 competition.
The Sinulog Festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January in Cebu City.
Labella said there are several events leading to the Sinulog, including the Novena Masses at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño, the fluvial procession and the Sinulog sa Kabataan.
He said millions of people, revelers and devotees, both local and foreign, are expected to join these events.
Cebu will also host the swimsuit presentation of the Miss Universe 2016, which will be held on Jan. 17 at the Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu in Lapu-Lapu City.
Labella said he already talked with Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief Senior Supt. Joel Doria about this concern.
But Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño said there is no cause for alarm as there are no direct threats in Central Visayas.
He said PRO 7 also continued to be on full alert, which was never lifted since it was imposed following the Davao bombing last September.
Taliño also assured security preparations for the Sinulog Festival and the Miss Universe 2016 swimwear presentation are now being put in place.
He said the PRO 7 security plans have been integrated with Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP-Centcom) to ensure tighter security especially during Sinulog. (PNA)
