EDITORIAL

Daily Critiques Help Ensure

Peaceful Ati-Atihan Celebration

APPO Officer In-charge Police Supt. Samuel C. Nacion concluded: Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival is peaceful and orderly celebration.

Although there were some minimal incidents reported such as pick pocketing, snatching and commotions, these did not affect peace and order of the festivity.

Nacion said, "the critiques conducted every day at Aklan PPO conference room together with the Police Assistance Center commanders (PACs) helped correct and improve a better security measures that ensured a successful annual festival celebration."

The three (3) major concerns given emphasis were: full blast deployment of 830 strong security forces on the festivities; simultaneous mobile and beat patrols at major activity areas; and traffic control management especially in the afternoon during the traditional procession that started at 3 pm and ended at 10 pm.

The checkpoints were manned by police, Philippine army and volunteers deployed for the procession.

Traffic re-routing of vehicles going to Caticlan and the eastern towns of Aklan was implemented to decongest heavy traffic.

Police Regional Office (PRO-6) Director Chief Superintendent Cipriano E Querol, Jr. observed "the security coverage and strengthened police visibility for the weeklong celebration is excellent!"

"The mobile and beat patrol, manning and establishment of strategic checkpoints, traffic management units, the maximum deployment of force multipliers and BPATs were in place where they are needed and worked aptly that ensured the successful outcome. of the celebration", Querol added.

He congratulated the OPLAN Atifest 2010 Task Force Commander led by APPO OIC PSUPT Samuel Nacion and the operating units for the job well done when Querol attended the Ati-Atihan festival last Sunday.

The security coverage was personally manned by no less than the deputy regional director for operation 6 PSSUPT Antonio Viernes and Outgoing Aklan PPO provincial director PSSUPT Epifanio Bragais Jr.

Starting on January 14, the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) conducted massive deployment of 830-strong security forces from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Capiz, Iloilo and Antique Police, Aklan PNP, Philippine Army, Philippine National Red Cross, reservists, BPATs, volunteers, and Kalibo Auxiliary Police that ensured the peaceful and orderly celebration.

Kalibo celebrated its yearly Ati-Atihan festival from January 10 to 16 highlighted by religious procession and spiritual street dancing of Balik-Ati tribes and tourists.

Nacion said the policemen implemented the ‘Oplan Sita and Operation Kapkap’ to all motorists, vehicles, buses, tricycles and suspicious-looking individuals passing through the checkpoints and the nine PACs.

"We sent the signal that the police and other augmentation forces were alert at all times during the festival. The police have tightened the security measures as the annual festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors," Nacion said.

Nacion also directed the policemen assigned in the checkpoints to apprehend motorists without helmets and to maximize police visibility around festival venues in Kalibo’s Magsaysay Park, Goding Ramos Park, and Kalibo Pastrana Park

"The nine Police Assistance Centers (PACs) stationed in different strategic areas in Barangay Poblacion were on duty round the clock. Checkpoints in three municipalities leading to Kalibo were set up with the Philippine Army 12th Infantry Battalion personnel," Nacion said.

The 24-hour Compacs have police investigators and a medical team assigned in two shifts daily to enforce security, emergency and traffic assistance, he added. The public was warned against carrying deadly weapons during the Sto. Niño de Kalibo Festival celebration.

Internal checkpoints were established in Numancia, Banga and Kalibo while external checkpoints were established in Altavas, Crossing Nabas/Pandan, Antique and Caticlan, Malay composed of the Philippine Army and PNP. Checkpoint on illegal possession of firearms, carrying of deadly weapons and No Helmet, No Travel Policy were strictly implemented.

Can the police sustain day to day peace and order in Aklan especially Kalibo? /MP