Davao City on maximum security for civic-military parade

By Rhoda Grace Saron  

DAVAO CITY – Davao City is placed on maximum security as it culminates its week-long 81st Araw ng Dabaw celebration with a civic military parade Friday, March 16 when thousands of Dabawenyos are expected to fill city streets and the Rizal Park, the main venue of the festivities.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will deploy an estimated 5,000 police personnel plus security forces along the route of the Parada Dabawenyo starting from Roxas Avenue to Rizal Park.

City Chief of Police Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum said stricter security measures and implementation of the do's and don’ts would be in place.

People going to the venue are discouraged from wearing caps, shades, bringing of backpacks, bottled water, bladed weapons. People will be frisked thoroughly.

Tagum said authorities would be conducting extreme measures as part of preventing people from creating trouble.

“We are monitoring the threat groups especially the CPP-NPA terrorist, and we are constantly gathering information through our intelligence unit,” Tagum said.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, the Deputy Commander of Task Force Davao, said there would be body frisking and thorough inspections of baggage and bags at the checkpoints.

Spotters will be deployed to help in the monitoring threat groups. Cabangbang asked the indulgence of Dabawenyos and visitors for inconvenience but, he assured that traffic will be manageable during inspections.

The committee on Araw ng Dabaw expected thousands to witness the Parada Dabawenyo. 

Orly Escarilla, the spokesperson of the Araw ng Davao Committee, said there are 329 contingents joining the Parada Dabawenyo.

He hopes that the parade will end at 12 noon.

Erwin Alparaque of the Parada Dabawenyo committee, said the number could increase because there are groups who would join at the last minute.

The committee is also implementing guidelines in the parade. Alparaque said he expects contingents especially those with floats would follow the guidelines.

Floats should not exceed the size dimension; no distribution of items by participating companies, acrobat stunts to ensure continuous flow of the parade. Alparaque said 100 parade marshals would be deployed to monitor each of the contingents. (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)