500 police, Army personnel to secure Kagay-an fest

Erwin Mascariñas

August 27, 2011
8:10 am

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/26 August) – More than 500 troopers of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division will be deployed and be placed on alert to secure the celebration of the Kagay-an Festival 2011 that will peak during the city fiesta on Aug. 28.

The existing force of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) will be augmented by more than 100 personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) and close to 200 trainees from the police region training school to provide security for the Kagay-an Festival celebration.

Chief Insp. Lemuel Gonda, COCPO chief of operations, said that the added number of personnel in the ground is a great help in deterring any unwanted and untoward incidents.

“It is the directive of the our city police director, Senior Supt. Geraldo Rosales, to have more officers on the ground.

Police visibility is a must. We are prepared and ready,” Gonda said.

The newly formed Motorized Anti Street Crime Operatives (MASCO) will also be part of the security force patrolling the city, supported by the City Public Safety Management Unit, Explosives and Ordnance Division and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

The Army, on the other hand, has placed its standby units on alert and ready to respond in case they would be needed.

Maj. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, 4ID spokesperson and concurrent commanding officer of the 4th Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion, said that the Army has made its explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and K9 units available and will be deployed during the festivity.

“Standby platoons are prepared to be deployed when the need arises. We have our men and operatives on the field and so are the CMO and the 4ID band which will be part of the festivities,” said Osias. (Erwin Mascariñas / MindaNews)

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