Select municipal police stations (MPS) under the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) are recipients of 12 new patrol carso and 19 Informed Technology (IT) equipment.

The assets were turned over to identified MPS in a ceremony at the provincial headquarters in San Jose de Buenavista on Tuesday.

The recipients included MPS of Barbaza, Bugasong, Belison, Caluya, Hamtic, Patnongon, Sebaste, Sibalom, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier, Valderrama and Libertad.

APPO Director Col. Lea Rose Peña said the new patrol cars and computers were from the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters, which are expected to beef up the anti-criminality campaign in the province.

She added that it is timely since last year she already requested new patrol cars from their regional headquarters, especially since most MPS in Antique have old patrol cars.

Another two patrol cars will be released to APPO next week.

Binirayan Festival opens

Meanwhile, Peña said that the Binirayan Festival’s opening activities on Monday was peaceful and orderly with no reports of any untoward incidents.

The grand opening started with the reenactment of the arrival and establishment of the first barangay in Malandog, Hamtic, by the Bornean datus, followed by the lighting of the first Malayan Settlement Torch and a torch parade from Barangay Malandog in Hamtic to Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park in San Jose de Buenavista.

Antique Rep. Antonio Agapito Legarda, in his message read by his Political Affairs Officer Marie Payne, said that the festival is an important historic event that reminds the people of who they are, what they are and why they should be proud as Antiqueños.

“Ang pagdating ng ating mga ninuno sa Malandog, Hamtic ay hindi kuwento ng pananakop, kundi kuwento ng paghahanap ng kalayaan at kapayapaan (The arrival of our ancestors in Malandog, Hamtic is not story of invasion, but a story of a search for freedom and peace),” Legarda said.

The highlights of the Binirayan run from Dec. 15-27. (PNA)