Text fails to cause panic in quiet holidays

ASIDE from a hoax text message, police said the Holy Week observance went on without major problems.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Erson Digal said there were some crimes committed, but these were not related to the Lenten holidays.

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Last Friday, text messages circulated that a bomb had exploded at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

He said the text messages started circulating by noon and the rumors reached Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s assistant, who called him up to verify reports.

However, Digal assured that by 3 p.m., the terminal was nearly empty and only very few passengers were there.

As for the island of Bantayan, police officers tasked to enforce security there noticed a decrease in the number of tourists.

Last year, they recalled the procession in Bantayan town was packed. This year, though, crowds were notably thinner.

Digal also said he was barraged with phone calls from resorts and organizers, bringing the name of high-ranking officials and claiming they were exempted from the ban to hold acoustic jam sessions, concerts and dance parties.

He added that someone brought up the name of the governor.

“Pero akong giingnan ang chief of police nga paundangon gyud kay nakasiguro ko nga wala gyu’y gitugotan si Gov (But I told the chief of police to stop it because I am certain the governor did not exempt anyone),” Digal said.

Another organizer claimed he had a mayor’s permit, but when Digal ordered Sta. Fe Police Chief Leoncio Baliguat to secure a copy of the permit, he said it stated that the permit was to hold sports activities and did not include an acoustic music session.

Also last Friday, three persons were arrested after they were caught in possession of stolen cell phones and wallets.

A covert team from the Provincial Intelligence Branch was sent to the island and, while roaming the plaza in Barangay Poblacion at 8:30 p.m. as the procession was ongoing, three suspected thieves were arrested.

They were identified as Jacinto Villagonzalo and his wife Jinky, both of Barangay Opao, Mandaue City, and Alvin Dilantes of Lapu-Lapu City.

Police recovered eight cell phones and five wallets. They are now detained at the Bantayan Police Station.

Beginning yesterday, additional troops arrived in Minglanilla and the City of Naga as crowds were expected to come for the “Sugat,” which reenacts the reunion of the Virgin Mary with Jesus Christ after the resurrection.

Aside from police personnel, K-9 units have been deployed to screen “suspicious bags and boxes” that may be left around the church grounds.

Digal said the chiefs of police have been instructed to coordinate with the parishes to let them know of the security arrangements. (MEA)