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Aklan PNP Prepares for security of 200K devotees to the Sto. Nino Ati-atihan
KALIBO, Aklan The Aklan Provincial Police Office has prepared to monitor at least 200,000 devotees who will flock to Kalibo this weekend to participate in the annual Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival.
Lieutenant Colonel Belshazzar Villanoche of Kalibo Ati-Atihan Site Task Group said the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas has augmented 2,500 police personnel. This is aside from the stationed police in Kalibo and the augmentation of the Philippine Army, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and force multipliers/
“During ati-atihan last year, we saw a crowd of around 150,000. This year, we expect the number of devotees to increase, that is why we are preparing to embrace more revelers this year,” he said.
The police will also tighten the security. The PNP will manually inspect every individual entering the festival areas. In previous years, marching bands were exempted from the inspection. Also, the local government unit does not issue car passes to the residents. They will only present their identification cards as proof that they are residing at the festival areas
The Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival is considered the oldest festival in the country. This year it culminates from January 13-19, 2025.
