LEGAZPI CITY, April 23 (PNA) -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima led on Wednesday the 6,000 delegates of the Freemason Fraternity from across the country on the grand occasion of its 99th Annual Communication (AnCom) of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.
For an event starter, Purisima, the current grand master of the Freemason Fraternity in the country, together with over a hundred delegates who are PNP ranking officers in various parts of the country, converged on Wednesday and visited Camp Gen. Simeon Ola, the headquarters of the police regional office here.
Purisima’s party was met by police officials led by Bicol Regiona Police Director Victor P. Deona, who arranged for a simple welcome ceremony at the camp's ceremonial ground.
The police director general welcomed his police officers who are also active members of the Grand Mason Fraternity, noticeably giving a very short welcome address.
Purisima, wearing a neatly pressed white polo barong, acknowledged and shared pleasantries with local police officials led by Deona.
At the ceremony, Purisima was accompanied by Ismael Manguddadatu, governor of Maguindanao, and had a boodle fight lunch.
The group of Purisima then proceeded to the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (ICR), the convention venue here, to register as delegates to the four-day AnCom.
Other prominent personalities that will attend the convention are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
City Mayor Noel Rosal, who is the Mason Regional Grand Master, said the 99th AnCom is one of the biggest conventions in the country this year which the city is hosting starting on Thursday until Sunday.
Rosal said they also expect foreign delegates to attend the convention.
He said "it’s all systems go" for the AnCom delegates as over-2,000 hotel rooms are reserved for the delegates and their families.
Several other accommodation facilities in nearby localities like Daraga, the home to the historical Cagsawa Ruins, the resort town of Sto. Domingo, the Misibis Island Resort in the municipality of Bacacay and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco have also been tapped,” Rosal said. (PNA) CTB/FGS/MSA/CBD/