“We’ll go ahead with Kadayawan with additional security,” says Duterte

Mayor Rodrigo Dutere need not make the public wait until August 13 to announce that Kadayawan will push through with more security forces deployed in the city.

By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today

DAVAO CITY — Mayor Rodrigo Dutere need not make the public wait until August 13 to announce that Kadayawan will push through with more security forces deployed in the city.

“We go ahead and celebrate the Kadayawan, with assurance of additional forces,” he told reporters in a hurried press conference late Friday night at Mandaya Hotel, adding that there will be around 600 to 1,000 troops to be deployed during the festivities next week.

The mayor said he made the announcement earlier than his imposed deadline after getting “the response which I wanted to hear” from the intelligence community, which he noted “nothing significant” to warrant the cancellation of the Kadayawan.

Earlier, the mayor thought of cancelling the Kadayawan following bomb attacks in Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and Midsayap which killed a total of eight people and injuring 76 others.

But after consulting with the intelligence community, he declared Kadayawan is good for this year.  “Kampante nako nga moawhag sa katawhan (I’m confident now to invite the people) to enjoy the night long celebrations,” said Duterte.

The mayor explained that festival activities such as the floral parade will be planned carefully with security measures in place such as additional covert groups to secure the people.

Duterte admits the decision is not easy. “I am not trying to make bravado, as a leader I am scared not just of the bombings but of criminal acts.”

The Kadayawan is the city’s annual main festival and is projected to attract more than 20,000 local and foreign tourists for activities such as the floral parade, Indak-indak sa Kadalanan or street ethnic dance and other cultural shows.

Duterte said he hopes nothing will go wrong with the festival which opened on Friday with a ceremony at People’s Park.  (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)