Soldiers to augment security for Kadayawan Festival

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 22): Soldiers to augment security for Kadayawan Festival

Security measures during the week-long Kadayawan Festival this August will be tightened as top government officials and personalities including President Rodrigo Duterte and Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach are expected to arrive and join the festivities.

Task Force Davao Commander Col. Henry Robinson told reporters in a press briefing Thursday that additional company-size soldiers will be arriving to augment the security forces during the celebration.

Expected to join the festivities during the Kadayawan are members of President Duterte's Cabinet.

“Security preparations are on-going. The security cluster has already converged and measures are already being undertaken,” Robinson said.

He added that they are also assessing threat groups that might pose danger during the celebration especially to the residents and visitors.

Robinson mentioned the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) as among the threat groups.

In the same press briefing, Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, director of the Philippine National Police in Davao region (PRO-11) said their priority will be the safety of all the participants, spectators and visitors during the celebration of Kadayawan.

Gaerlan also called on the residents to cooperate with authorities as some security measures will be strictly implemented during the celebration.

Among those measures are the prohibition of the bringing of backpacks and umbrellas.

"The people are the good agents of security,” Gaerlan said as he urged the Davao City residents to be vigilant and immediately inform the authorities if they found suspected items or encounter suspicious persons.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=906391