No guns allowed in Masbate City until April 14 for rodeo festival

MANILA, Philippines—Don’t carry your gun in the Philippine “wild west” from April 9 to 14.

The Philippine National Police announced Wednesday the temporary suspension of gun-carrying privileges in the country’s “rodeo capital,” Masbate City, for the duration of the “Rodeo Masbateño Festival” in the island province.

“In view of the celebration of the “Rodeo Masbateño Festival” all Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residences (PCTFOR) are hereby temporarily suspended for six (6) days effective April 9 to April 14, 2012 in Masbate City” Bartolome said in a Memorandum issued on Friday to Region 5 police regional director, Chief Superintendent Jose Arne de los Santos.

The order, the PNP chief said in a statement, aims to “ensure the peaceful and orderly celebration of the Rodeo Masbateño Festival and to keep it free from any firearms-related incident.”

Bartolome instructed de los Santos to strictly implement the firearms prohibition through the Police Integrated Patrol System, by conducting checkpoint operations, LOI SITA/Oplan Bakal, mobile/beat patrol, and other police security operations, in close coordination with the military, other law enforcement agencies, government agencies and local officials.

The festival is a week-long celebration that features activities such as a parade of horse riders, rodeo competitions, a barn dance show and a country carnival.

Under the PNP directive, only officers of the police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies in agency-prescribed uniform shall be allowed to carry firearms in the city.

No exemptions will be granted, Bartolome said.