Watch out for new faces in your neighborhood.
And make sure that someone is left at home to guard the premises before stepping out to attend various Sinulog activities.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said chances of a terror attack are remote during Sinulog week but it pays to be “overvigilant.”
“Eternal vigilance is what we need for democracy to continue. Let’s pray that nothing untoward will happen during the Sinulog,” said Rama in a press conference.
Rama reacted to President Benigno Aquino III’s warning of a terror attack to occur during the Black Nazarene feast held in Manila yesterday.
Cebuano devotees of the Black Nazarene had a solemn, peaceful Mass in Talisay City (see story on page 7).
Cebu police are more concerned about the Sinulog festival attracting more pickpockets and even robbery groups from Mindanao.
In Talisay City, eight persons suspected to be part of a Mindanao based syndicate were arrested in various barangays.
Cebu City police and military personnel together with anti-crime volunteers will have a dry run of the Sinulog route this Friday.
Church activities for this year’s annual feast of the Sto. Niño already started with a dawn procession last Thursday while the Sinulog, which is the secular celebration kicked off with a parade on Friday.
Police and military personnel of the Central Command will secure the Sinulog grand parade on Sunday in Cebu City.
“It is always better to be suspicious than be complacent. It is always better to be overprepared than not to be prepared at all,” Mayor Rama said.
He said roads leading to hospitals should be cleared for use of emergency vehicles during the Sinulog.
Rama said security should also focus on pawnshops and money changers, which attract criminal elements..
And unlike the Black Nazarene feast observance in Manila, there isn’t any viable terrorist threat aimed at disrupting the annual Sinulog observance in Cebu City, police officials said yesterday.
Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, said plans are in place to secure Cebu City, which is expected to draw in thousands of revelers from the province and outside Cebu for the annual Sinulog.
Supt. Rodulfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu provincial police, said there is a remote chance of any terrorist action during the Sinulog.
“The Black Nazarene procession is held in Manila and terrorist groups prefer to attack the capital city,” he said.
Nevertheless, Albotra said Cebu police are coordinating with each other to monitor the movement of criminal elements to and outside Cebu.
Earlier Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, intelligence chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said they received support and assurance from 160 leaders of Muslim communities to help protect Cebu City. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters, Correspondents Chito Aragon and Gabriel C. Bonjoc