• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region reported an “orderly and incident-free” commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution across Negros Feb. 25.
Around 2,850 participants, comprising of 680 from Bacolod City, 2,100 from Kabankalan City, both in Negros Occidental, and 70 from Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, joined the Edsa 40 commemoration, per the PRO-NIR estimates.
A total of 2,127 PRO-NIR personnel were strategically assigned to key locations to ensure a comprehensive security coverage, and strictly implemented public safety protocols, traffic management, and crowd control measures, in close coordination with local government units and partner-agencies, to ensure that the observance will be orderly, uninterrupted, and peaceful.
“The 40th anniversary of Edsa People Power reminded us that democracy thrives when citizens can exercise their rights freely and safely,” PRO-NIR director, P/BGen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, said in a statement. “Our personnel were fully committed to ensuring that every participant commemorated this historic event in peace, without fear or disruption.”
Despite the Edsa People Power remembrance earlier declared a working holiday by Malacañang, several schools in Bacolod, and local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental suspended classes and government work yesterday to mark the special day.
Private Catholic schools in Bacolod cancelled classes, including the University of St. La Salle, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, and St. Scholastica’s Academy of Bacolod City.
La Consolacion College-Bacolod halted classes starting yesterday noon, while the VMA Global College and Training Centers only suspended office operations, per a Philippine News Agency report.
LGUs that suspended classes and government work included Candoni, Hinigaran, and Isabela, while only face-to-face classes at all levels were cancelled in Hinoba-an and La Castellana.
The San Sebastian Cathedral community in Bacolod also joined various groups and nongovernment organizations in the mobilization, which started in front of the Capitol and culminated at the public plaza. | CGC
