Duterte: No terror threat to Palaro

DAVAO DEL NORTE, April 22, 2015 – Delegates and guests of the Palarong Pambansa 2015 are very safe, as there is no clear and present threat to disrupt the holding of the games on May 3-9.

Regional Peace and Order Council 11 Chair, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte assured the safety of over 15,000 athletes and visitors from all over the country attending the national games that will be staged mainly at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City, this province.

During the RPOC-11 meeting in the City, Duterte revealed that the threat level on the week-long Palaro is only 3 in a scale of 1-10, with ten being the highest threat level.

However, the RPOC-11 chair insisted on implementing maximum security measures despite the low threat level.

“The reaction of government is always the same be it 1 or 10 ang security threat. I  expect nothing but I am prepared for everything,” Duterte said.

He has also called on the New People’s Army and other armed groups to stay away during the duration of the games. 

Duterte, however, assured that if there is any threat at all, it will certainly not come from the NPAs, since it is not their character to create chaos during such kind of events.  

The mayor further pledged that Davao City will lend security and medical support, in addition to the P1-million financial sponsorship they provided earlier to Davao del Norte, in order to help fuel the success of the Palaro.

Davao del Norte is hosting the 2015 edition of the largest school-based games supported by the Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc.  or TADECO, Damosa Land, Davao Packaging Corporation (DPC), Davao International Container Terminal, Inc. (DICT) and Pearl Farm Beach Resort.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario acknowledged Duterte for his backing and for being on top of the security and safety plan for the national games.

“I am personally at ease that we will be able to provide unparalleled safety to everyone,” he said heaving a sigh of relief. “With the backing of the whole Davao Region, there is no reason for us to fail.” (nobags/davnor pio)