Guns banned, signals jammed at MassKara

BACOLOD CITY (PNA) – The Western Visayas Police has intensified security for the highlights of the MassKara Festival which started Thursday by enforcing a gun ban and shutting down cellular network services.

Western Visayas Police director, Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, said the gun ban for the entire city began midnight Tuesday and will end 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Binag told revelers to avoid bringing backpacks, deadly weapons, pointed objects, and other contraband at the three festival sites – the Bacolod public plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip, and Bacolod City Government Center.

He said the police has requested the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to shut down cellular network services at certain times during the festival.

Phone signals will be jammed at the government center from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight on Oct. 19 and 22; at the Bacolod public plaza, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 20-22; and at the Lacson Tourism Strip, from 8 p.m. to midnight on October 20-22.

The Western Visayas police has fielded 4,365 policemen, soldiers, and volunteers to secure the festival sites.

Also deployed are teams from the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Emergency Response Team of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from the PNP headquarters was also sent to Bacolod.

President Duterte will be guest of honor during the final day on October 22.