Avoid too much drinking, Lim urges Tondo Sto. Niño revelers
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has appealed to Tondo residents to avoid as much as possible too much drinking in Sunday’s celebration of the feast of the Sto. Niño, which is annually marred by high incidence of violence among drunken revelers.
Lim reminded residents in the area that the traditional religious celebration “must not be marred by petty fights sometimes leading to rumbles and even tragedy,” adding that the revelry should be peaceful and orderly.
He said that while there are always drinking sessions to mark the celebration of the feast of the Sto. Niño, binge drinkers should ensure that they know their limitations.
“Sana po ay sa tiyan natin ilagay ang alak at huwag sa ulo. Mas maganda pa nga kung huwag na po tayong uminom ng alak (Let us put liquor in our stomachs and not in our heads. It would even be much better if we do not drink at all),” Lim pointed out, making his appeal to Tondo residents.
He proposed that money for intoxicating drinks be spent instead for food and other forms of entertainment like videoke sessions or parlor games, which are “better and more pleasant alternatives to drinking.”
The mayor directed Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez to ensure that Sunday’s celebration of the feast of the Sto. Niño is trouble-free.
Gutierrez said that some 600 MPD personnel, including members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, will be deployed in the Tondo area to guard against unruly revelers and ensure that the fiesta celebrations will be orderly and marked by sobriety.
Police checkpoints
Police checkpoints will be set up in strategic locations of the site while Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel will be dispatched to help man traffic along Road 10 as well as Jose Abad Santos, Tayuman, Pritil, Balut and Velasquez streets, all in Tondo.
Annually the celebration of the feast of the Sto. Niño, celebrated during the third Sunday of January, is marred by an upsurge of shooting and stabbing incidents as well as melees involving drunken residents.
