Community volunteers to assist security forces during Kadayawan Festival

LAW ENFORCERS have intensified security preparations for the main week of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival in light of the car bomb explosion in Lamitan City, Basilan last week that killed 11, including the suspected bomber. Retired military officer Benito T. de Leon, chief of Davao City’s Public Safety and Security Command Center, said the police and military have already deployed about 15,600 agents as part of the preparatory measures leading up to Aug. 10-19. Sr. Insp. Maria Theresita D. Gaspan, Davao City Police Office spokesperson, added that the Police Regional Office will also augment the city police units with members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion. Ms. Gaspan also said that volunteers from the communities and other police auxiliary units have also been tapped. The city government is expecting about 200,000 visitors during the festival. In September 2016, a bombing rocked the city’s night market, killing 14 individuals and injuring more than 60. — Carmelito Q. Francisco