More than 2,000 policemen will be fielded for the MassKara Festival this October, PCol. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police director, said Sunday, October 1.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife, Liza, are expected to attend the highlight of the festival, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said earlier.
Aliño said the Bacolod police went on full blast security operations for the festival starting Sunday.
He has requested the police regional office for 1,000 additional policemen to augment the about 1,000 Bacolod police force during the festival, Aliño said.
The 1,000 additional policemen have not arrived yet but the send-off of troops for the festival will be on October 5 in time for its official opening on October 6, he said.
On top of security for the festival, the police are also on alert to keep the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections “safe, honest and peaceful”, Aliño said.
The Bacolod police is on an aggressive campaign against big time drug suppliers, especially during the festival, he added.
Aliño reiterated his warning against illegal gambling at carnival sites during the MassKara Festival.*