The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) deployed 315 personnel here on Thursday to augment security operations for the ongoing 43rd Masskara Festival.

Figures from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) showed the contingent includes 289 non-commissioned officers and 26 commissioned officers from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Iloilo Police Provincial Province, and PRO-6 headquarters in Iloilo City.

They were received by Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, city police director, during a ceremony held at the BCPO grounds.

“The augmentation personnel will be deployed to various festival sites and event centers. They will render anti-criminality functions, and provide security and police presence in all Masskara-related venues and activities,” Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, BCPO public information officer, said in a statement.

They are part of the more than 2,200 uniformed personnel and force multipliers tasked to maintain peace and order during the three-week festival, which runs until October 23.

On September 29, the BCPO sent off an initial 1,165 troops from the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement units, including the Philippine Army, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, force multipliers, and disaster response groups.

On October 10 to 16, about 181 policemen from NOCPPO will secure the “Masskara sa Panaad” at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Since the start of the Masskara Festival on October 1, provincial police personnel have been assigned to secure the border areas of Negros Occidental going to Bacolod.

They are manning the checkpoints at the boundaries of the cities of Bago, Talisay, as well as Murcia town. (PNA)