ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Western Visayas’ top police chief said there is no need for anyone to be alarmed about where it regards reports of a terror threat occurring during the holding of the Dinagyang Festival here.

In connection,C /Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO 6) director underlined, “No need to jam cellphone signals in Iloilo City during the Dinagyang Festival.”

He said the police hierarchy in the region has not monitored any intelligence report which warrants the blocking of cellular signals when the city holds said festival this coming weekend, January 21 and 22.

In the wake of the reported terror threats during the recent Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, some talks were heard here about the same possibility of a terrorist attack in Iloilo City during the festival.

Querol underlined that the PRO 6’s anti-crime operations for the festival is enough.

“Gun ban, checkpoint operations, police visibility and intelligence monitoring are sufficient security measures during the celebration of the Dinagyang Festival,” Querol said.

The top cop further noted that the PRO 6 remains alert at all times.

“We are not complacent with our preparations,” Querol said, even as he emphasized that “there will be no let up in ensuring the success of our security coverage for this festivity.”

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) will be augmented by the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPAT) for this weekend’s festivities.

Moreover, other law enforcement agencies including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will also be working closely with the ICPO for the duration of the Dinagyang festival.