The first day of the Misa De Gallo which has been expected to draw throngs of churchgoers in Tagbilaran City was “very peaceful,” said a police official who seeks to maintain a crime-free holiday break during the Christmas season.

Tagbilaran City police chief Lt. Colonel Oscar Boyles said that there were no crimes recorded during the first day of the observance of the traditional nine-day dawn Masses which started Monday and will end on December 24.

“Sa unang kadlawon napaka peaceful ang pangahitabo ganina sa Tagbilaran, way dautan,” said Boyles.

According to Boyles, they have funds allocated for the intensified patrols and monitoring across Tagbilaran City during the holidays with police presence beefed up in the vicinity of churches in the city.

Cops also heavily patrolled neighborhoods to prevent burglaries while many residents were in churches to attend the dawn Mass.

Meanwhile, the police enlisted the aid of barangay tanods (village watchmen) and ALERT personnel from City Hall as force multipliers to help maintain peace and order in villages.

The heightened police patrols and security measures will be maintained beyond the holiday break until January 6, said Boyles.

“Zero crime, mao g’yud na among objective this yuletide season,” he added.

Boyles earlier noted that there had been threats involving the entry of thieves and burglars from outside the province to conduct their illegal activities in Tagbilaran City in time for the Christmas season but so far there have been no reported rise in criminality in the city. (R. Tutas)