CCPO: No selling, drinking liquor along parade route

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office is again warning business owners and the public that it will confiscate liquor sold and consumed along the carousel and Sinulog Grand Parade route.

Police Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña of the CCPO Police Community Relations said they will enforce this to avoid any untoward incidents.

He disclosed that last year they confiscated alcoholic drinks sold within the restricted areas. He said though that after the Sinulog, they returned the items to the establishments and warned the owners not to commit the same violation or else will face consequences.

“Naay sanction… i-file ang kaso, a violation of Cebu City Ordinance 1413 or the Liquor Licensing Ordinance,” he said if the establishments will commit the same mistake.

Aside from selling liquor, drinking alcoholic drinks along the carousel route and the Sinulog Grand Parade route is likewise prohibited and the drinks will also be confiscated.

Belciña said eight police sectors were created along the parade route to ensure the public’s safety.

Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu will lead the sector covering the Cebu City Sports Center where the presentations during the grand parade will take place, while other sectors will be led by the following officers: Chief Inspector Arthur dela Rosa covering CAP to RR Landon St. to the east gate of CCSC; Senior Inspector Chuck Barandog covering J. Osmeña St. passing Fuente Circle to DOH Bldg and Senior Inspector Allan Rosario covering D. Jakosalem St. (Rivergate) Juana Osmeña St..

The other sectors will be led by the following officers: Senior Inspector Bienvenido Miral covering MJ Cuenco corner General Maxilom up to Jakosalem St.; Chief Inspector Ryan Devaras covering corner of Sikatuna St. (Day-as Brgy. Hall) up to MJ Cuenco cor. General Maxilom Avenues; Senior Inspector Gerald Suquib covering ACT near E-Mall to Imus Avenue (Day-as Brgy. Hall) and Chief Inspector Noel Lomente covering corner Leon Kilat Sts., near E-Mall to CitiLink Terminal for security purposes.

Task Group Sinulog is headed by CCPO OIC Senior Superintendent Conrado Capa.

Belciña said there will be 1,149 Cebu City police officers deployed in eight sectors. Each sector will have a detention cell.

“Ang crucial sectors 2, 3, and 4 daghang police ang gi-deploy while gamay rang police ang gi-deploy sa sector 6,” he said, adding that they will have 500 police interns from six schools to assist the police.

Senior Superintendent Erson Digal, chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division-7, said that in preparation for the Sinulog, they have been in full alert starting January 12.

Chief Inspector Rex Derilo of the Regional Special Operations Group-7 said that while a lot of people are in Manila for the papal visit, there is high probability that robbery groups will strike Cebu, the reason they have also intensified their intelligence operations.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc said their personnel will be deployed at the Muelle Osmeña Wharf, Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, and Marcelo Fernan Bridge for today’s fluvial parade.

“(We) sustain daily all-out foot patrol, daily checkpoint patrol twice a day, daily motor-stop operation, and motorcycle patrol operation,” said Radoc in order to prevent any possible operations of robbery groups within his jurisdiction.

Further, Senior Superintendent Petronelli Baldebrin, Mandaue City Police Office director said they will also be deploying police officers at the bridge going to Mactan.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office is likewise supporting the move of the Cebu City police. — Mylen P. Manto/ATO (FREEMAN)