The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) officially culminated its security operations for the 47th Masskara Festival with an awarding ceremony at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Covered Court in Barangay Singcang-Airport on Monday, Oct. 19.
Led by PRO NIR Regional Director PBGen. Rudecindo L. Reales, alongside Deputy Regional Director for Operations PCol. Lito E. Patay and BCPO City Director PCol. Eugene N. Rebadomia, the event recognized police personnel and partner agencies for maintaining peace and order throughout the annual celebration.
Authorities assessed the overall festival as generally peaceful and safe, attributing the outcome to sustained deployment across key venues, regular security monitoring, and active crowd control.
On the festival’s final day, an estimated 630,000 revelers gathered across key activity areas in Bacolod City. Despite the high turnout, security forces maintained high visibility to manage crowds and ensure public safety, a PRO NIR press statement said.
In one notable incident highlighting the security response, police personnel swiftly apprehended a theft suspect on Oct. 16 near the San Sebastian Cathedral following a report of a stolen mobile phone at a kiosk along San Juan Street in Barangay 12. The stolen property was recovered and the case was declared solved, it said.
During his address, Reales commended Task Group Masskara 2026, local government units, festival organizers, and volunteer groups for their collaboration.
“Your service demonstrates that public safety is a shared responsibility and that through unity, cooperation, and steadfast dedication, we can achieve a common goal,” Reales said. “Resilience gives us strength, unity gives us purpose, and service gives our work meaning”, he said.
Representatives of Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Abelardo B. Benitez and Mayor Greg G. Gasataya also attended the awarding ceremony, along with personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, local disaster response units, and civic force multipliers.*
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