Tuesday, January 22, 2008 'Main problem still': control of huge crowd
CROWD control remains a perennial problem in the Sinulog festivities, and this was the same problem encountered by police and the Central Command during the Sinulog grand parade last Sunday.
But Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said no major incidents marred the grand parade and that this year’s Sinulog was more peaceful and orderly compared with the previous years.
He admitted, however, that some aspects of the celebration either need to be improved or sustained. He hopes these problems will be solved.
Comendador said the police’s decision to divide the deployment of forces in the morning and at night should be sustained.
He also plans to put the reserve forces at the Ramos market for easy deployment to the areas where trouble and other alarms occur.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man was stabbed by an alleged member of a gang during last Sunday’s Sinulog festivity.
Lloyd B. Hatasa of Barangay Talamban, Cebu City was with his friends at the Ayala Business Center on Rosales St., Barangay Luz to celebrate the Sinulog and watch the fireworks display.
At past 10 p.m., two of his friends had an argument, which was immediately settled.
For no apparent reason, a group of youths believed to be Crips members approached Hatasa’s group.
One of the gang members allegedly stabbed Hatasa with a knife in the upper right side of his body.
Hatasa was taken to Perpetual Succour Hospital. (JST)
