Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey confirmed that the traditional face-to-face Christmas “Pahalipay” gift-giving of the Duterte family will resume this year at the ancestral house of former President Rodrigo Duterte along Taal Road, Central Park Subdivision in Barangay Bangkal, Davao City.
“For more details sa CIO na lang po mag-inquire,” Dela Rey said in a text message.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Duterte family has been doing a gift-giving every December 25 since then-mayor and former President Rodrigo Duterte became mayor in 1988 as part of the Dabawenyos’ Christmas tradition and extended in the past years.
Last year, former mayor Sara Duterte canceled the traditional gift-giving activity at the Duterte residence in Taal, Bangkal to avoid mass gatherings of people.
In 2020, she also canceled the activity due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in Davao City.
Meanwhile, Dela Rey said that DCPO is now preparing for the activities lined up next month.
“Sa December daghan katong mga naka line up na mga concerts nga mahitabo and we already prepared our personnel na i-deploy didto. Nanghinaut ang city director sa cooperation sa mga katawhan nga naa lang gihapon,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
She also assured that DCPO will continue to implement maximum security in all activities in Davao City may it be public or private initiated.
“This week atong ipadayon ang maximum security sa bar examinations. Nag exam na atong last week November 9 ug 13 ang naka line up nato is November 15 ug 20. Labi na sa ika 20 kay kasagaran daghan pamilya nga musugat aning ilahang mga loved ones nga nag apil sa exam. Mao ni atong ginapreparahan karon,” she said.
