By Jade C. Zaldivar
City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has spearheaded the declaration of a gun ban lasting thw entire month of March as a mechanism to curb criminality during the celebration of the 75th Araw ng Dabaw.
The festival, which had “soft opening” activities since February 10, will offcially open on March 12.
Duterte-Carpio originally planned the gun ban to last only from March 14 to 17, at the peak of the city’s celebration, but later opted for a month-long ban.
“Rather than falling short, it’s better we lengthen the number of days,” the Mayor said.
Members of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) last February 28 met at the City Hall in finalize the resolution requesting Director General Nicanor Bartolome of the Philippine National Police to declare a gun ban in Davao City for the whole month of March.
The Mayor said she is merely applying measures to be done by the police as a sure-fire means against criminality.
“As what the police say, what helps lower the crime rate is (1) police visibility, (2) conducting random checkpoints, (3) patrolling, and (4) declaring a gun ban. So, I suggested that to Colonel dela Rosa,” the mayor said, referring to Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Ronald dela Rosa.
“This is to ensure the safety of the public and our visitors during the celebration,” she added.
The gun ban will follow rules and regulations of the Election Gun Ban. Once approved, all gun permits issued to civilians will be temporarily cancelled and only the authorities (police and military) in uniform are allowed to carry firearms during the event, Duterte affirmed.
City Prosecutor Raul Bendigo during the meeting made a clarification in behalf of case witnesses as they need to be protected.
Duterte clarified that civilians who wish to carry firearms for some valid reasons can file for an exemption with the Police Regional Office Davao Region.
The CPOC resolution also stresses that Bartolome is to “strictly implement the gun ban during the period.”
Meanwhile, dela Rosa announced March 1 that the city is currently on high alert.
Preparations are set for about 2,000 personnel from the DCPO and Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region to be deployed in different areas of the city during the celebration.
Added to the 2,000-strong police force is the city’s anti-crime unit Task Force Davao (TFD), central monitoring Davao City Public Safety Command Center (DCPSCC), emergency response teams from Central 911, the Traffic Management Center (TMC), and civilian volunteers, referred to as “force multipliers”.
New Task Force commander
Task Force Davao (TFD) was created nine years ago as the city’s fist against terrorism.
Army Colonel Marcos Norman Flores took over the helm of the anti-terrorism unit from Colonel Rey Leonardo Guerrero last February 28.
“I know there are a lot challenges and I vow to confront them head-on in making Davao City terrorist-free,” Flores said in his acceptance speech.
Guerrero, who held the TFD command since August 2010, left his position with gratitude and a promise to continue protecting the city and neighboring Island Garden City of Samal from his new post.
The former TFD commander lauded the troops, who are mostly non-regular Army personnel, for enduring the heat, rain, dust and smog, and scorn of irate motorists.
“I leave Davao City with a promise fulfilled. I may be in Davao Oriental but I will be guarding Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal from the other end of the Davao Gulf. I will also be leaving a capable unit, competent men and women,” Guerrero said.
Guerrero also expressed his gratitude to the leadership of Major General Jorge V. Segovia, chief of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.
New peace and order leaders
Both TFD commander Flores and DCPO chief dela Rosa, who assumed his post on February 1, may be relatively new in their posts during the 75th Araw ng Dabaw celebrations, but the city mayor has high expectations for both them to succeed in their assigned tasks.
“Nobody can question the capability of the new DCPO chief and his leadership. I chose him because of his accomplishments and the way he does things,” Duterte said during a press conference February 27.
As for Flores, the lady mayor reminded him of the vital role of TFD in the city’s peace and order and of her high expectation for its commander.
“We do not have to remind you always about the reason TFD was created,” Duterte-Cario told Flores in her speech during the turnover ceremony.
The mayor said the CPOC will meet again on March 7 which both Flores and dela Rosa are expected to discuss at length their mechanisms for keeping the peace during the Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
