Despite the NPA attack on its police station last Sunday, Mati City bounced back and declared itself ready to host the 2015 Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet, the region’s biggest sports conclave which begins four days from now.
That’s a bold declaration coming from Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat after the attack that came just nine days into the start of the games. The DAVRAA attracts around 6,000 student athletes and officials from Davao City, Davao del Sur, Digos City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and host Mati City who will converge for five days of athletic competition. Winners and selected athletes from this competition will represent Davao Region in the coming Palarong Pambansa which will also be staged in Region 11 on May 3-9 in Davao del Norte.
Just last Sunday, some 50 NPA members stormed the Mati City police station. A rebel was killed in the gun battle, while three Army soldiers were also slain while staging reinforcement. Another Army man in civilian clothes was shot dead by the rebels who installed a blockade near the police station.
The attack left the city, already flourishing with its tourism and investment potentials, like a proverbial ghost town within the next 24 hours.
But instead of retreating under gripping security threats, the local government of Mati, with the support of the provincial government, the regional police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said it would proceed with the staging of the event.
The DAVRAA is a competition involving elementary and high school kids. It is no easy responsibility for the host LGU and a nightmare for the police and military.
We can only ask everyone, not just the NPA, to spare the DAVRAA and spare the kids. These kids should be secured from any violence. They just want to play and make sports their vehicle to win not just medals but friends and, ultimately, peace.
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