Davao City police gears up for mammoth PDP-Laban rally

DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said it will deploy the maximum number of personnel for the campaign rally of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) rally at the Crocodile Park Grounds in Barangay Ma-a here on Friday.

Col. Alexander Tagum, DCPO director, said a series of coordination meetings with police units and the City Public Safety and Security Command had been conducted to discuss the security and crowd control measures.

Tagum said he is expecting a huge crowd considering the anticipated attendance of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said DCPO is also getting personnel augmentation from the Police Regional Office-11 and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion to ensure the safety and security of all rally participants.

Tagum asked the people to refrain from bringing backpacks.

“We will be establishing security control points for body frisking and checking of bags,” he said. “We are asking for your cooperation so that we cannot give more burden to our policemen."

Col. Nolasco Mempin, chief of the Task Force Davao, said on Monday that they will serve as support force in the implementation of DCPO's security plan for the rally.

“The venue proper will be secured by the Presidential Security Group while the troops will basically provide security around the perimeter of Crocodile Park,” Mempin said. (PNA)