IN just a few days, the month-long Kadayawan Festival will kick off in Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte expects zero criminal incidents or any untoward events during the celebration, a directive he has given to acting DCPO Chief Col. Hansel Marantan.
Although he could not attend the send-off ceremony for the security cluster for the 39th Kadayawan Festival held on Tuesday at the Davao City Police Office, Mayor Baste orders are clear: maintain order and peace throughout the city’s celebration.
In a speech delivered by Public Safety and Security Office Chief Angel Sumagaysay, he emphasized that Davao City has long maintained peace and order.
It is not surprising that, according to Numbeo, Davao City remains one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia.
“We all know that every Kadayawan [Festival], we are all on the ground, and for so many Kadayawans and Araw ng Davao, we have always maintained zero incidents. So, can we achieve that now? That is my challenge. Can we achieve it? Ladies and gentlemen, that is what I will hold on to and convey to our principal, Mayor, that you can answer that we can achieve zero incidents,” PLtCol. Angel Sumagaysay (Ret), Public Safety and Security Office, Davao City.
Meanwhile, according to acting DCPO Chief PCol. Hansel Marantan, Mayor Baste’s marching order to ensure zero incidents for the Kadayawan Festival is a challenge.
“We reviewed last year’s statistics. I saw on Google that around 200,000 tourists visited during the 38th Kadayawan Festival. The influx of crimes was close to zero, and now it’s a challenge. You heard Mayor earlier, it’s a challenge for us to make it zero. How? We have made many preparations already. We had a lot of simulations this morning. Regional Director Torre came,” according to PCol. Hansel Marantan, Acting Chief, DCPO.
According to Marantan, security is not only the responsibility of the PNP but of the entire community as a whole.
He encouraged public cooperation to achieve this goal.
Over 20,000 PNP and security personnel to be deployed for Kadayawan Festival
Ret. PLtCol. Sumagaysay shared that more than 20,000 personnel from the PNP, AFP, various agencies of the Davao City government, auxiliary units, and force multipliers will be deployed in the city for the various events to be held throughout August for the Kadayawan.”
“We will be deploying 20,485 personnel. This is an integrated deployment of the security and safety cluster, and we have an average of 661 personnel deployed per day. This is a month-long celebration,” PLtCol. Angel Sumagaysay (Ret) Public Safety and Security Office, Davao City stated.
PCol. Hansel Marantan expresses gratitude to Mayor Baste
Meanwhile, Col. Marantan thanked Davao City Mayor Baste for the chance given to him to prove his ability to serve the people of Davao.
“I told him, “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” I said to him, “I will welcome you, but I hope you will do your job,” according to Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Davao City.
“My comment is thank you,” PCol Hansel Marantan, Acting Chief, Davao City Police Office stated.
DCPO Chief keeps mum on Mayor Baste’s challenge
Meanwhile, Marantan also commented on Mayor Baste’s challenge to PNP Regional 11 Director PBrig. Gen Nicolas Torre III regarding the state of criminality in Davao City.
“With your indulgence please allow me not to comment on those statement because because…Kadayawan Festival,” PCol. Hansel Marantan, Acting Chief, Davao City Police Office said.
The Kadayawan Festival is set to kick off on August 8, showcasing the much-anticipated Pamulak and Indak-Indak events. The celebration will feature beautiful, stunning floats adorned with a huge variety of flowers and fruits from the city and the whole region, alongside impressive dance performances by the Dabawenyos.
