Sunday, October 21, 2007 Tight security up for last 2 days of MassKara By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
AFTER the Glorietta blast in Makati City that killed eight people and wounded several others, police authorities in Bacolod and Negros Occidental immediately tripled their alert status in the city for the last two days of the MassKara Festival.
In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Irwin Leo Agpangan, head of Task Force MassKara, said: "We've already maximized our security in different areas where there are MassKara events."
"We also deployed augmentation forces at the plaza area, SM City, Lacson street, and even among others outside of the festival sites. Police Terrano patrols with appropriate number of augmentation forces are also on the go in all areas of Bacolod while scores of K-9 dogs were also deployed to sanitize identified ‘critical’ areas,” he added.
Agpangan said though they haven't received yet any information that Bacolod is a target of extremists' activities like what happened in Glorietta Friday.
Nevertheless, he said they're not lowering their hats. "We're still on alert...on triple alert," Agpangan said.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) Director Rosendo Franco also said he alerted his men in every town and city against any possible terroristic act to be launched by any terrorist or extremist group.
He said they've already sent an augmentation forces in Bacolod just to see-to-it that the last two days of MassKara Festival will be peaceful.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ronilo Quebrar trust Agpangan in leading a group of security men who will secure the entire festivity Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's big event is the MassKara street dancing competition -- barangay category.
While on Sunday, will be the MassKara street dancing competition -- open category and the coming of the country's sexiest actress Marian Rivera a.k.a Marimar.
Aside from MassKara, both Franco and Quebrar said that alert status will continue even until Christmas and New Year celebrations.
We need to see-to-it that no untoward incident will happen either in Bacolod or any part of Negros Occidental, the two top cops said.
Meanwhile, Bayan-Negros Secretary General Felipe Gelle described the Glorietta bombing as another form of diversionary tactic by the Arroyo administration.
"President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the military are creating a scenario for her to declare Martial law. Her special operation team is desperate that they have to kill people amidst the call for the president's resignation," Gelle said.
Also, Pastor Emmanuel Alano is urging the Protestant group to be in a vigilant mood.
"After we confirm the bombing or explosion, we must begin to make noise for the cause of justice and righteousness. For now, eight people were killed and scores were injured. We cannot afford to keep quiet in our air-conditioned churches. We need also to pray for God's judgment to those who pose an affront to His commandments," Alano said.
