Abra province (in red shading) in Northern Luzon (Image from Google Maps)
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – All permits to carry firearms issued to civilians are suspended starting Feb. 4 in Abra province, which is hosting the six-day Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) sports meet.
Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), gave the order because a grenade explosion on Jan. 25 killed two police officers and hurt 26 people in La Paz town, according to chief Supt. Edwin Carranza, chief of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (Pro-Cor)
Dela Rosa is scheduled to keynote the opening ceremonies of the meet, the region’s biggest annual sports event, which takes place from Feb. 4 to 9.
Abra officials have assured parents of participating athletes that their children would be protected.
Dela Rosa’s order includes a ban on the purchase and transport of explosives and their ingredients that will be used for construction work.
The suspension order also covers the Bangued town fiesta, which takes place from Feb. 23 to 26, and the province’s Kawayan Festival, which runs from March 1 to 9.
“These [events] involve the mass gathering of people so we have to set up an intensive security arrangement,” Carranza said. “We don’t want anybody carrying firearms.”
Only members of law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties and who are in uniform will be allowed to carry firearms, he said.
Chief Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, chief of the Cordillera police directorial staff, said 1,000 police officers were deployed in Abra, augmented by the Regional Mobile Force Company, on Saturday.
A university and a private school in Baguio City have pulled out from the sports meet, concerned that the explosion at the La Paz town fiesta – which also wounded Abra Rep. Joseph Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos – has remained unsolved.
Carranza said the police had investigated persons of interest who were seen at the town plaza before two grenades were thrown after midnight of Jan. 25 while people were watching a fireworks display.
“They are no definite suspects yet. Our investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
/atm