PRO-6: On-duty

officers barred from

using mobile phones

Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, yesterday reiterated the policy barring police officers from using their mobile phones except in emergency situations during the ongoing Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan, which comes to a close this weekend.
“Police personnel on duty should only be allowed to use their cellphones in case of emergencies,” the law enforcement official affirmed. “If they are receiving a call, they [have] to inform their comrade so that security and vigilance will be non-stop.”
He noted, those caught violating the policy will be sanctioned and face administrative charges.
Around 1,700 security personnel have been deployed for the event.
Earlier this week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called for a “clean” celebration.
“I was dismayed during [the] celebrations of New Year’s Eve as tons of [trash was] scattered all over the country,” DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu explained. “I hope religious festival would be different [with] revellers maintaining waste properly.”
The closing events for the annual festival begin tonight with Kapuso Night and the Higante contest.
Meanwhile, the Sadsad Ati-Atihan contest is scheduled for Sunday, January 18, with the pilgrim mass and procession held the following day./WDJ