By Jennifer P. Rendon
The intensive and detailed security preparations for the Dinagyang Festival 2020 paid off.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Dinagyang 2020’s Task Unit Investigation has yet to record an incident involving eight focus crimes – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and carnapping/motorcycle theft.
“Given that zero incident involving crimes against persons and property, we could say that this year’s Dinagyang is more peaceful, orderly, and systematic,” Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) spokesperson, said.
Sangrines clarified that the zero incident scenario is only at Sectors 1 to 6, or the portions that locked down the four judging areas in City Proper district.
As of this writing, Sangrines said they have yet to receive reports of major incidents in areas outside the City Proper district.
Also, no one was arrested for gun ban violation.
Prior to the festival, the PNP has approved the cancellation of the permit to carry firearm outside of residence (PTCFOR) during Dinagyang Festival 2020 starting Jan. 22 until Jan. 27, 2020.
Last year, the PNP also considered the Dinagyang celebration as peaceful as only three cases of physical injuries and two theft cases were recorded.
This year, police arrested one person for alarm and scandal and another one for possession of fan knife.
Meanwhile, ICPO also recorded 40 traffic incidents since the Dinagyang security coverage started.
But the number is lower compared to last year’s 72 cases of traffic incidents – both involving reckless imprudence resulting in damage of property and reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries – or a decrease of 44.44 percent.
Meanwhile, the composite team also managed to help eight “lost” children who were eventually returned to their parents or guardians.
Eighteen minors were also “advised” about the curfew ordinance.
For the Dinagyang 2020, a total of 5,123 warm bodies composed the Security Task Group (STG) Dinagyang.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) sent 1,940 police personnel to augment Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)’s 707 officers.
The Philippine Army sent 97 military personnel while Coast Guard Western Visayas deployed 134 personnel.
Meanwhile, 117 emergency responders were deployed – 21 from the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and 96 from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
They will be augmented by 2,128 force multipliers from the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs), criminology students, and other groups.
