Pagadian City fiesta celebration reels off; security tightened

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By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- The police in coordination with the military have tightened security in this city to ensure the safe celebration of this city’s fiesta.

This, as the celebration kicked off at 1 p.m. Friday the highlight of which is the feast day of Sto. Niño, the patron saint of this city, on January 18.

Supt. Glenn Dulawan, city police chief, said security measure was tightened effective Thursday afternoon with the deployment of sufficient number of policemen in strategic places here.

Combined police and military personnel conducted saturation drive Friday morning in the coastal barangay of Sta. Lucia following information about the presence of suspected lawless elements in the area.

However, Dulawan said no one was arrested and no firearms were confiscated during the saturation drive.

The fiesta celebration kicked off at 1 p.m. Friday with the re-enactment of the arrival of Sto. Niño at the wharf of this city.

It was followed by a procession from the wharf to the Sto. Niño Cathedral. The novena is set at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Mayor Romeo Pulmones announced the cancellation of the Pasalamat Festival 2015 street dance competition to pave way for the holding of the Church-led activities.

The Pasalamat Festival 2015 activities are sponsored by the city government.

Pulmones said they cancelled most of the city government-sponsored activities so that the security measures will be focus to the series of Church-led activities.

He said the only city government-initiated activity that was not canceled is the two-day regatta from January 17-18.

This year’s festival is anchored on the theme “The Child Jesus was born poor to save the poorer.” (PNA)
CTB/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION/EDS