Police Lieutenant Ryan Devaras, Deputy City Director for Administration of the Cebu City Police Office, answers a question during a press conference on Monday, April 5, 2021. CDN Digital photo | Pegeen Maisie Sararana
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Despite 83 illegal gambling violators apprehended during the Lenten season, Cebu City’s observance of the Holy Week was still peaceful, according to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
Police Lieutenant Ryan Devaras, Deputy City Director for Administration of the CCPO, said during a press conference on Monday, April 5, 2021, that the security preparation here was “successful,” even though they arrested 83 individuals for illegal gambling, mainly on illegal cockfighting or ‘tigbakay.’
“For the past four days sa Lenten season, we are proud to say that Cebu City was generally peaceful,” Devaras said.
(For the past four days of the Lenten season, we are proud to say that Cebu City was generally peaceful.)
Devaras said their preparations helped make their security measures successful.
“Our city director already announced that we will be conducting this kind of security operation. Ang mga tawo nisunod raman pod,” he concluded.
(Our city director already announced that we will be conducting this kind of security operation and people adhered to it.)
Some minor issued included reports of people swimming at the baywalk of the South Road Properties (SRP) on Easter Sunday, April 4. Swimming in that area is prohibited due to the danger it poses to swimmers.
“We deployed our police personnel to warn them that it’s not allowed to swim there,” Devaras said.
At the Carbon Market, Devaras said that security teams managed to control the crowd well all throughout the period.
“Unlike last year, karon na control gyud nato ang crowd. We prepared for this, we deployed more police officers and more augmentation personnel to secure the area,” he said.
(Unlike last year, we were able to control the crowd. We prepared for this, we deployed more police officers and more augmentation personnel to secure the area.)
Read: CPPO chief: Holy Week ‘generally peaceful’
/bmjo