Ati-Atihan aims for zero crime

ILOILO –The Philippine National Police (PNP) is aiming for a zero crime situation as the 2016 Ati-Atihan Festival takes place in Kalibo, capital town of Aklan province during the weekend.

Police Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, chief of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6), said police units are on alert to avert major crime incidents from happening during the festival’s climax today.

Diaz has ordered tight security for some 1.5 million Sto. Niño devotees, tourists, government officials, and other dignitaries taking part in the revelry considered the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals.”

The police hierarchy in the region expects lawless elements such as drug peddlers, drug users, snatchers, and others, including those coming from other places, to take advantage of the public’s losing themselves in the intense festivity that the Ati-Atihan is traditionally known for.

Diaz has ordered Police Chief Inspector Al Loren Bigay, Acting Chief of the Aklan Police Provincial Office, to implement the Major Event Security Framework (MESF), which utilizes all available personnel, resources of the government and partners from other law enforcement agencies such as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6) to take part in securing the festival.

Police officers from Antiqe, Capiz, and Iloilo provinces are also augmenting Aklan’s police security force in making sure no trouble breaks and revelers are secure.