315 more cops arrive for MassKara

The 315 augmentation personnel arrive at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) on Thursday to help secure this year’s MassKara Festival. (Photo courtesy of BCPO)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A total of 315 policemen who will augment the security for the MassKara Festival arrived here last Thursday.

Of the figure, 26 were Police Commissioned Officers (PCO) and 289 were Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO).

Most of the commissioned officers came from Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here and Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), while the non-commissioned officers came from Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 in Iloilo City.

Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), welcomed the augmentation personnel at the BCPO grounds.

They were added to the 1,200 personnel, who were initially sent off at the start of the festival.

The augmentation personnel were distributed to different festival sites and event centers, where they will render anti-criminality functions and provide security and police presence in all MassKara-related venues and activities.

More than 2,200 uniformed personnel and force multipliers are expected to join forces to help maintain peace and order in this year’s festivity.