Osmeña Warns to Arrest Sinulog Revelers Caught Drinking Alcohol

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena has warned revelers who will be caught drinking liquor or alcoholic drinks along the streets during next year’s Sinulog Grand Parade, to be held in the third Sunday of January, will be arrested.

Osmeña also vowed to implement certain measures that would help prevent public disorder during the Sinulog parade, one of the country’s biggest tourist drawers.

“I am sorry if I sound very strict but we have to start this way,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said the presence of drunken people would create public disturbance and a risky situation.

“We cannot have several hundred people running around wild,” he said.

A stampede was reported in a street party on Gen. Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City a few hours after the Sinulog Grand Parade ended.

Injured persons were brought to a nearby private hospital.

But a day after, police said no stampede happened although there were unruly revelers amidst the huge crowd.

Osmeña also said he wanted to finish the celebration early.

“We are cutting it early, before the sun down. People are just barely partying, finish, over. I hope it would be manageable,” he said.

Osmeña said there would be no street parties in next year’s Sinulog. (PNA)RMA/EB/RSM