ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has declared a ban against gun owners carrying their firearms outside their residences during Iloilo’s famed 2012 Dinagyang Festival.

According to Police Regional Office (PRO 6) director C/Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., PNP Director-General Nicanor Bartolome has approved the request for suspension of the permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) in Iloilo City from January 15 to 23.

The request was made by city police director S/Supt. Marietto Valerio with concurrence from Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Said request is intended to prevent the incidence of crime and securing the safety of visitors during the week-long festival.

This year, aside from the usual massive number of tourists and Santo Niño devotees who attend the Di-nagyang, six foreign ambassadors, including United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. and South African Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, are expected to come to Iloilo for the festival

During the period covered by the gun ban, only law enforcers on official duty are allowed to carry firearms. Such law enforcers include on-duty members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Meanwhile, Querol said a similar gun ban request made by Kalibo Mayor William Lachica is pending for the upcoming Ati-Atihan Festival on January 14-15 in Aklan province.

Last year, the PNP a gun ban was implemented for both the Ati-Atihan and Dinagyang festivals.