DAVAO CITY -- Around 60,000 people are expected to gather at the Crocodile Park here for the first grand rally of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Friday evening.
Arwin Ardon, president of the Duterte Campaign Team, said Thursday the rally, dubbed the “People’s Political Grand Rally”, will formalize President Rodrigo Duterte's endorsement of five PDP-LABAN candidates and seven guest candidates.
PDP-Laban senatorial slate is bannered by former Special Assistant to President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.
The guest candidates who are attending the grand rally are Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito, former Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, and singer Freddie Aguilar.
Ardon said the Duterte Campaign Team is expecting supporters from neighboring provinces.
De Carlo Uy, manager of the dela Rosa team, said they are expecting about 2,000 supporters from Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, and Davao del Norte.
Rose Villaflor of the Freddie Aguilar team said she is also expecting over a thousand supporters in Davao City.
Tight security
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the City Traffic and Transport Management Office have assured tight security at the Crocodile Park grounds.
Col. Alexander Tagum, DCPO director, said Dabawenyos should expect tight security measures such as bag inspection and body frisking. Prohibited items include firearms, bladed weapons, pens, umbrella, boxes, water bottles, canisters, and backpacks.
City Traffic chief Dionisio Abude said motorists should also expect long lines of vehicle traffic along the Carlos P Garcia (Diversion Road) from 12 noon when people are expected to arrive at the Crocodile Park.
Abude said there are also alternate routes, such as the Maa slaughterhouse bypass road for those heading to the downtown area from Diversion Road. Two quadrants of the Crocodile Park grounds can accommodate 50,000 people, Abude said. (PNA)
