PNP toughens Peñafrancia Festival security measures

CAMP GENERAL SIMEON OLA, Legazpi City – The Police Regional Office (PRO) yesterday assured that the annual Peñafrancia Festival that will kick off on Friday will be safe from terror attacks and activities.

Bicol police regional director Chief Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe said that the PRO-5 is implementing more stringent security measures all over the Bicol region following the bombing incident in Davao City.

Thousand devotees of Bicol’s Patron “Ina” from all over the country and even abroad are expected to flock to Naga City.

Buenafe said that the Naga City Peñafrancia Inter-Agency Task Group has been created to attend to the preparations for the religious celebration.

Meanwhile, Buenafe warned the public against believing and disseminating unverified security information.

“To address the circulating news in the social media on possible terrorist attack in Naga City by the Abu Sayyaf Group, the PRO5 appeals to the public not to proliferate unverified information on security threats causing panic and chaos,” Buenafe stressed.

“These might be hoax news perpetrated by some individual who are misinformed, who have ill motives or simply making jokes unintentionally which are inimical to public’s peace and order,” Buenafe added.

Buenafe pointed out that bomb jokes cause panic and chaos is punishable under the law.