Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, yesterday declared the implementation of a gun ban for the remainder of the ongoing MassKara Festival.

During a press conference, he said permits to carry firearms for licensed gun holders will be temporarily suspended until Monday, October 23.

In addition, the PRO-6 chief said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved a request to have cell sites shut down during festival highlights.

According to documents released by PRO-6, cell sites located near the Bacolod Public Plaza, the Bacolod City Government Center, and along the Lacson Tourism Strip would be shutdown from October 20 to 22.

Binag also appealed for understanding from mobile phone users who will be affected by the lack of a reliable mobile phone signal.

PRO-6 Deputy Director for Operations, Police Senior Superintendent Jesus Cambay, Jr., meanwhile, said they also revised security protocols, explaining backpacks would now be banned from festival sites due to security concerns.

Cambay noted, sharp objects, such as barbecue sticks, broken glass bottles, and knives, would not be allowed at the festival sites.

He added, tourists planning to use drones in order to capture the event from the air must first secure a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)./DGB, WDJ