Kids playing as angels get ready to play their part in the Sugat Kabanhawan Festival in Minglanilla town in southern Cebu in this 2015 photo. | CDN file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Seventy seven security personnel will be deployed to secure the Kabanhawan Festival activities in Minglanilla town in southern Cebu on Sunday, April 21.
Police Master Sergeant Ramon Chinel, Minglanilla Police Station operations officer, told CDN Digital in an interview that 48 of these security personnel would come from neighboring local government units and other police forces to assist in securing the town during the Sugat Kabanhawan Festival on Easter Sunday.
Read more: Organizers promise bigger, grander Sugat-Kabanhawan festival on Sunday
The dawn festival, which is a reenactment of the meeting of Mary and the newly risen Jesus Christ, is one of the popular festivals of the town that have attracted visitors from neighboring towns and Cebu City.
The 48 personnel came from the Talisay and Naga Police Stations, Minglanilla Police Special Weapons and Tactics, Regional Training Center in Consolacion town in northern Cebu, and soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command.
Chinel said they would also set up checkpoints in the town as part of the security measures for the Easter Sunday activity.
Chinel also warned motorists coming from southern Cebu to expect heavy traffic on Sunday as more people would be returning home to Cebu City.
“Hinaot nga ang katong going to the (Cebu) city tomorrow, hinaot mo sayo-sayo sila, either morning or unya kaadlawon,” Chinel said.
(I hope that those heading home to Cebu City tomorrow would do this earlier either in the early morning or at dawn.)/dbs