Police conducts a dry-run for their security positioning for the Kadayawan festival in Davao City in this photo taken in 2013. This year, around 3,000 police and military personnel will be deployed during the week-long Kadayawan celebration. (davaotoday.com file photo by Ace R. Morandante)
DAVAO CITY — Around 3,000 police and military personnel are deployed to secure the city for the 31st Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival which kicks off today, August 15.
Police Regional Office 11 director, Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, said “the police personnel will serve as force multipliers securing the inner circles of the city during the festivities with the expected influx of visitors.”
Gaerlan said the anti-terror unit Task Force Davao committed more than 400 personnel from the Army’s 10th Infantry Division and another 300 soldiers from the Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters.
TFD Chief Col. Henry Robinson said aside from manning the checkpoints, their personnel would coordinate with the Coast Guard, Navy and Maritime Police.
He said only deployed security forces are allowed to carry long firearms and politicians and their bodyguards “will have to turn over their long firearms during the duration of the week-long Kadayawan celebration on August 15-21.” (davaotoday.com)
