Grand parade crowd reaches 3.5M

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Danilo Constantino said the crowd that witnessed yesterday's Sinulog grand parade numbered 3.5 million.

It was, however, lower than last year's four million, which he said could be because the people are still feeling the effects of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda a few months ago and decided not to witness the spectacle.

He also said the same on the number of participants, with just 49 joining this year compared to 70 in 2013.

As to the security preparations made for the Sinulog, Constantino said that this year's is better compared to the preceding years.

The only problem he saw is how to sustain the current peace and order situation.

He said the PNP would continue to be on full alert and he would still station policemen in places like bars and other crowded areas.

He would recommend that for next year, a big map should be placed inside at the vicinity of the grandstand.

"Ang i-rerecommend ko, dapat may malaking map bawat kanto na nakalagay (I will recommend that there should be a big map in every corner with the words 'you are here', para alam nila kung saan sila lalabas (so the people would know where to exit)," Constantino said.

He said that there were no major incidents reported during the Sinulog grand parade.

"Maybe nag-enjoy ang mga tawo sa kalsada (the people were enjoying in the streets)," he said.

The only incidents recorded were that of lost children, pickpockets and snatchers victimizing revelers, and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) member who had a drink too many.

Cebu City Police Office Intelligence Branch Chief Romeo Santander said eight children were reported lost during the grand parade. His men, though, attended to the children to reunite them with their parents.

Also, instead of enjoying the rest of the day celebrating the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño, eight people went to the police station to report that pickpockets and snatchers took their things. 

The victims were mostly busy watching the grand parade, taking photos of the different contingents and joining celebrities from Manila who were dancing on the street.

They include a Canadian who said he was watching the dancers perform when he noticed that his wallet was gone. He said he even put it in the most secure pocket of his pants, but still pickpockets managed to get it. Inside his wallet were important papers, credit cards, and cash of undetermined amount.

Shaking his head, he told The FREEMAN that he would never join the Sinulog festivity again because of the bad experience. 

Another foreigner, Evan Lee, a Korean student, said that his Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone was snatched by an unidentified person while he was taking photos with it. He admitted, though, that his teacher advised him not to bring any valuables with him when witnessing the Sinulog.

Ahmel Crisologo, who also lost her wallet to a pickpocket, reiterated the warning police have always been saying when joining the Sinulog.

"Dili na magdala og cellphone.  Kon mahimo camera nalang ang gamiton sa pag-picture, ug gamay ra nga kwarta ang dad-on kanang igo ra (Do not bring any celphone. If possible, bring a camera instead in taking pictures, and just bring money enough) for one day," she said.

Meanwhile, a member of the Philippine Coast Guard spent time at the Fuente Police Station to sober up after he was arrested for violating City Ordinance 1929 (drunkenness) inside the Cebu City Sports Center.

P01 Ricamel Abing said a certain 1st Lt. Colina of the Philippine Navy reported that a drunk Vicente Gelbolingo, allegedly an apprentice seaman of the PCG, was causing disturbance at the grandstand area.

Gelbolingo, who was wearing his coast guard workout uniform when arrested, had with him a sniper's veil and wallet with his identification cards inside.  (FREEMAN)