Police ready to secure ‘Tamboe Sadsad’

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Police are ready to ensure the security and safety of merrymakers and tourists in the upcoming Tamboe Sadsad salvo of the 2019 Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival. 

PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

Kalibo chief of police Superintendent Richard Mepania said they laid out a police deployment plan to secure the festival venues on October 26 opening salvo.

Around 140 uniformed policemen and auxiliary cops will be deployed around Kalibo Pastrana Park, Kalibo Magsaysay Park and major streets to assist also the motorists and commuters.

Kalibo Pastrana Park will be the venue for opening salvo program at 2 p.m. and the Kalibo Magsaysay Park for Hysteria 2.0 at 5 p.m. 

Festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) is expecting 2,700 participants from 61 Ati-Atihan tribes and groups to join the Tamboe Sadsad.

The events are sneak preview to the bigger, grandiose celebration of Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival in honor of Senor Sto. Nino de Kalibo from January 11 to 20. 

Mepania said police task units in intelligence, anti-criminality, investigation, traffic and VIP security are also ready to make the events peaceful and successful.

Emergency responders of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and Saint Gabriel College EMS and personnel of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-Kalibo) will help cops to respond to emergencies.  

K-9 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units are also deployed to make sure the festival venues are properly screened and are free of any explosives or devices.  

Meanwhile, no parking around Kalibo Pastrana Park will be strictly enforced beginning at 6 a.m. and road closure of portions of Arch. Reyes Street, Veterans Avenue, Regalado Street, F. Quimpo Street and XIX Martyrs Street at 12 noon. 

The festival organizer also reminded the Ati-Atihan tribes and groups to limit their street dancing along the designated areas until 10 p.m. 

Mepania said merrymakers and spectators are encouraged to observe local ordinances on no smoking in public places, prohibit illegal drugs, bladed or improvised weapons and bringing of bottled alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks during the merrymaking.