BCPO reports peaceful Baguio with recent crowd-drawing events

Peaceful and orderly – this was the report of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) after the recent crowd-drawing events held in Baguio City recently.

Baguio City hosted the 3-day 2023 CARAA Meet and Regional Academic Festival, Ifugao Day celebration, and 121st Labor Day celebration Job Fair from April 27 to May 1, 2023.

BCPO Information Officer Angeline Dongpaen said the police force first raised their alert status and conducted Regional Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) from April 24–30, 2023 to tighten and strengthen security and ensure the overall safety of more than 5,000 athletes from the Cordillera.

Dongpaen said about P6.7 million worth of illegal drugs was seized, and 25 lawbreakers were arrested by the BCPO in the 35 police operations conducted during the week-long SACLEO, which commenced at midnight on April 24.

A total of 370 BCPO personnel and volunteer groups were efficiently deployed in all the venues of the said sporting events and billeting areas to maintain peace and order, manage vehicular and pedestrian traffic direction, route, parking, and venue security from April 29 to May 1, 2023.

Additionally, 82 personnel from Cordillera PPOs provided onsite security at the billeting areas of their respective CARAA delegates as BCPO augmentation during the event, as well as Explosive Ordnance Detection (EOD)/K9 conducting panelling at the venue.

BCPO ensured proper coordination with other government agencies and groups to provide medical assistance to the delegates.

“BCPO recorded a protest action on May 1 (Labor Day) but ended up without any untoward incident,” Dongpaen reported. – JMPS