People gather along Mango Avenue for the post-Sinulog street party in last year’s Sinulog celebration (CDN FILE PHOTO).
Stay home or away from the streets.
This was the advice of Senior Supt. Joel Doria, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), to revelers who drink liquor and alcoholic beverages along the streets during the Sinulog Festival grand parade on Jan. 15, 2017.
In an interview on Wednesday, Doria said police will arrest anyone who gets unruly and causes public disturbance.
“We are giving you a warning. Now, if you causes disorder during or after the parade, then we will get you,” he said.
Mobile jails, he said, will be stationed in areas along the parade route.
Those who will cause public disturbance will also face charges before the prosecutors’ office.
“We will be lenient. But if your actions are too much, to the point of hurting other people, then you will receive the consequences of your actions,” Doria said.
To avoid brushes with the law, the CCPO director urged people to avoid drinking liquor in public places.
“I think it would be better if you drink at home,” he said.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier vowed to implement measures that would help prevent public disorder during the Sinulog celebration.
He said the presence of drunken people would create public disturbance and a risky situation.
In 2015, a stampede was reported on Gen. Maxilom Avenue a few hours after the Sinulog grand parade ended.
Injured persons were brought to a nearby private hospital.
But a day after, police said no stampede happened although there were unruly revelers amid the huge crowd of people who were having post-parade street parties on the avenue.