Aklan PNP : Kalibo festival generally peaceful

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Acting Aklan police director Superintendent Samuel Nacion said the staging of Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival this year was generally peaceful except for six stabbing incidents and two snatching cases.

Nacion attributed the orderly and peaceful celebration to the security personnel and volunteers who secured around 200,000 devotees, balikbayans, foreigners and local tourists in the various streets of this town.

To help maintain peace and order during the weeklong Ati-Atihan celebration, the Philippine National Police (PNP) suspended the permit to carry firearms in the capital town of Kalibo from January 12 until midnight of January 16.

"I am appealing to gunholders to heed our call for a more peaceful and orderly Ati-Atihan festivals. Let us celebrate faith, culture and tradition with respect to everyone," said Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol, Jr. in his statement.

Among politicians seen at the Kalibo Ati-Atihan were Senator Loren Legarda, Bacolod mayor Evelio Leonardia, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Teddy Casino, Kasangga partylist Rep. Teodorico Haresco, former Antique governor Salvacion Perez and former Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino.

Meanwhile, two of the six stabbing incidents over the weekend resulted to the deaths of 26-year old Adrian Alba of Poblacion, Numancia, Aklan and Ralph Lawrence Bulanon, 19, of Tamalagon, Tangalan, Aklan.

Bulanon was stabbed at the vicinity of Kalibo Pastrana Park on Sunday evening by the suspect Delvin Rembulat of Badiangan, Banga, Aklan. The victim was rushed to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital but was later pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.