MCPO: December 23 rally only had 3,000 attendees

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) has clarified that the crowd that trooped to the indignation rally last December 23 in support of dismissed mayor Jonas Cortes was only a little over 3,000.

MCPO Spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Mercy Villaro told The Freeman on Friday, December 27, that their crowd estimate as of 6 pm on Monday was around 3,000.

This figure was significantly lower than the 16,000 attendees reported earlier by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

Individuals from various sectors joined the rally on December 23 to pray for truth and justice following the cancellation of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of dismissed Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Villaro stated that she could not explain the higher estimate from the CDRRMO Bantay Mandaue Command Center, noting that their report differed from that of the MCPO.

“Mas dako ra ba ang CDRRMO…pero dili ko ka explain ana kay ang MCPO lahi man siya nga report, as of kato nga time. Kung ang CDRRMO naa silay ilaha, dili nako ka explain ana,” said Villaro.

She added that, on their part, the MCPO only reported 3,000 to the Police Regional Office-7.

“Dili ko ka explain sa ilaha nganong ni come up sila ana nga estimate. But for our part, ang amo-a gikan man na sa ground commander ana nga time under Station 1,” said Villaro.

In a separate interview, Felix Suico Jr., head of operations at the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), defended the figure, stating that around 16,700 people attended the rally.

Suico said that the figures were determined during the peak hours, from 6 pm to 7 pn.

“Among gi estimate, didto man gyud ko kay nag monitor ko sa mga responders team nga akong gi assign didto,” said Suico.

He explained that approximately five individuals could fit in one square meter.

“Niya kato nga time, huot kaayo…puno gyud siya nga mura og nag U-shape siya ba,” said Suico.

Suico further stressed that during the rally on Monday, the area spanning more than three thousand square meters was completely filled with people.

“Basta ang amoa lang per square meter gyud na ang amo ang pagestimate. Kung mag barog lang ang lima ka tao, gi estimate na namo og 1 square meter,” he said.

Suico also added that based on previous gatherings, such as the groundbreaking of the Mandaue City Government Center at the same location at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) last August, it also gathered around 11,000 people.

“Gamay gamay ra gani to, kay di man kaayo to huot,” said Suico.

He said that the rally on Monday was one of the largest gatherings they have ever recorded.

Meanwhile, despite the large crowd, Suico said there was no untoward incidents that occurred during the event. — (FREEMAN)