- Nearly 7-K personnel to secure Kadayawan activities: DCPO
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) is set to deploy a massive security force of nearly 7,000 personnel to ensure the safety of visitors and Davaoeños in the upcoming Kadayawan Festival.
During the Davao Peace and Security press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, July 23, spokesperson Capt. Hazel Caballero-Tuazon, said the DCPO alone has already briefed 6,990 of its personnel to secure all activities of the annual festival.
While the main deployment for the core events of Kadayawan will officially commence on Aug. 7, “soft deployments” involving K9 units and Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) teams will be conducted earlier for all events.
“We will check secluded areas within the venues to ensure nothing is hidden,” Tuazon stated, emphasizing proactive security measures.
A crucial aspect of the security plan, Tuazon highlighted, is the strict implementation of the “culture of security,” which includes a ban on backpacks within venues.
She appealed to the public to strictly adhere to this policy to avoid unnecessary alarms and the diversion of resources.
“If backpacks are not allowed inside the venue, please do not just leave bags unattended on the side,” Tuazon urged.
She explained that vigilant residents are quick to report unattended baggage to Central 911, which then triggers a response from PNP personnel, including the SWAT team.
“It’s a waste of effort if our PNP personnel, especially our SWAT team, respond only to find that the backpack just contains personal belongings,” she noted, while simultaneously expressing gratitude for the public’s vigilance.
Tuazon underscored the significant impact of the “culture of security” on the city’s peace and order, especially during the festival.
“We request that our culture of security be always practiced because it has a big impact on the peace and order of the city. Let’s not forget it because it’s a great help, especially this coming Kadayawan festival,” she reiterated.
While there is currently no specific advice for augmentation from other units, Tuazon confirmed that Police Regional Office XI, particularly the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), is on standby to provide additional manpower should the need arise.
