DCPO gears up for Holy Week

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is set to deploy 800 personnel to provide security coverage for upcoming church activities this week.

The police will be augmented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, police auxiliary and other force multipliers.

DCPO spokesperson PMaj Catherine Dela Rey, during the Madayaw Davao program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, said deployment started during Palm Sunday masses.

“Kagahapon, generally peaceful man ang maong pagsaulog sa Palm Sunday. Wala pud taý natala na any untoward incident (Our celebration of Palm Sunday yesterday was generally peaceful. There were no reported untoward incident),” Dela Rey said.

Dela Rey said all 46 Catholic churches in the city are provided with their own security detail. She added that churches also coordinate with the nearest police station and barangay functionaries for additional security.

The security cluster expects that Easter Sunday will bring around the biggest crowd in churches, especially now that public health restrictions have been removed.

The DCPO spokesperson reminded church-goers that the usual prohibitions under the city’s Culture of Security still applies. Backpacks, sharp objects, non-transparent water bottles, and other items will not be allowed within church premises.

“Ang expected nato na daghan og tao kay kadtong sa sugat sa Sunday, unya sa Sabado kaning bendita sa kalayo og tubig. Ug kaning sa procession sa Good Friday,” she said.

The long weekend, Dela Rey added, will also prompt an influx of visitors to the city.

“Gibantayan pud nato ang kaning mga tourist spots, mga vital installations like mga terminals, airport, seaport— naa pud taý gi-deploy dinha kay siyempre ang ubang taga-laing lugar muanhi sa Davao, naa puý taga Davao na muadto pud sa laing lugar since long weekend siya kay holiday gihapon pagka next Monday (We will be securing our tourist spots, vital installations like the terminals, airport, seaport—we also have deployments there because of course there will be visitors from other places coming here and our citizens will also go to other areas because of the long weekend since next Monday is a holiday),” she said.

Meanwhile, residents planning to go on vacation during the long weekend are advised to secure their homes and valuables. Dela Rey said barangay officials have been asked to aid the security cluster in patrolling their areas.

Residents are also asked to make sure to unplug appliances and gadgets before leaving their homes.

“Magtinabangay ta na magbantay sa atoang palibot og mahimung hapsay ug malinawon ang atoang pag-observe sa Lenten Season (Let us work together in observing our surroundings to have an orderly and peaceful Lenten Season observation),” said Dela Rey.