Security tightened for Kadayawan fest
DAVAO CITY – Security has been tightened for the culmination of the 28th Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival this weekend, with the much-anticipated Indak-Indak sa Dalan street dancing tomorrow and the grand floral and fruit parade on Sunday.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has prohibited the use of backpacks and the parking of cars on main thoroughfares as part of the security measures.
“You have to understand but we have to make a little sacrifice here. This is for the good of everybody,” Duterte said.
Police have been on alert in this southern metropolis following the recent bombings in the cities of Cotabato and Cagayan de Oro and elsewhere in Mindanao.
Those who want to watch the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan street dancing tomorrow and the floral float pa- rade the following day are prohibited from bringing backpacks.
No one is also allowed to park his car in any of the routes of the street dance and the parade.
Duterte said those carrying backpacks in other crowded areas shall be accosted by authorities, while cars parked in prohibited areas shall be towed.
The suspected bomber in Cagayan de Oro City was said to be carrying a backpack that he left on one of the chairs at an entertainment strip in the Limketkai Complex.
A car bomb was used in the explosion in Cotabato City last Aug. 5 that killed eight people and wounded more than 40 others.
“If they need to carry something like feeding bottles or bottled water and anything else, they can bring with them transparent plastic bags,” Duterte said.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas himself personally reviewed the security measures put in place by local authorities here for the Kadayawan festivities.
Roxas and Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima called for a command conference on Wednesday morning at the Southern Mindanao police headquarters here to check on the police forces deployed for the festival.
President Aquino earlier praised Duterte for the measures he imposed to make sure that no untoward incident would take place during the festivities.
Duterte also tapped the Muslim community and barangay officials to help monitor suspicious-looking individuals.