The Bacolod City Police Office is urging for the application of a gun-ban from October 1-19, during the MassKara Festival this year.
In a coordination meeting between the police and the organizers of the festival, the police are also hoping that they will get the same amount of police reinforcement from other localities, particularly during the highlights of the festival where hundreds of thousands flock to Bacolod to witness the grand parade and join the merrymaking in various festival sites.
BCPO director Police Col. Joeresty Coronica said there were more than 900 police personnel deployed in Bacolod during the festival last year and they are hoping to have the same number of police visibility in our streets this year.
One of the challenges raised is where to get these additional troops as Bacolod is now part of the Negros Island Region. As per protocol, Bacolod can only seek reinforcements from local government units that are part of the new region, including from the province of Siquijor while last year, police personnel from Iloilo augmented the local police.
Nevertheless, Coronica assured the organizers that they will do everything they can to find a solution and ensure that peace and order will be maintained during the festivities.