Not one due for Araw yet

NO national candidate has yet to express intention to join the 79th Araw ng Davao civic parade next week.
Parada Davaoeño chair James Zimmerman during yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum said his office has not yet received any request from politicians to join the civic parade on March 16, the culmination activity of Araw ng Davao.
He said if there are national candidates who want to join the parade they should first seek the permission of the event’s executive committee.
So far, it is only a local party-list that is given permission to join the parade.
National candidates who intend to join the parade are reminded to refrain from distributing campaign paraphernalia because the event is not political rallybut a foundation anniversary celebration.
“Dapat dili na nila buhaton kay mao na ang ginatwag sa mga kabatan-onan na Epal(They should not do it because that will be the definition of the term people today call as Epal),” he said.
“Naa bitaw to’y kandidato nga nag ana sa Cebu gi-boo, kahibalo namo kung kinsa to. Kay celebration na siya sa foundation day kung asa ang bida kay ang siyudad og mga lumolupyo (Just recently, a national candidate was heckled in Cebu because of that. You know who he is. It was founding anniversary celebration of the city and the people should the center of the celebration),” he added.
Earlier, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz said candidates are prohibited from campaigning during the civic parade on March 16.
Driz, however, said that the DCPO will immediately provide security to any candidate who will come to the city because it’s their duty to ensure their safety.
However, she clarified that their office has not received any request for security.
Araw ng Davao festival director city councilor Al Ryan Alejandre also said that the city will not stop any national candidate from joining in the celebration of its 79th anniversary. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.