- Davao City Police ready to secure Iglesia ni Cristo prayer rally
CITY HALL suspended face-to-face classes in both private and public schools on Monday, Jan. 13, as some 300,000-500,000 Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members are expected to gather at San Pedro Square for the simultaneous prayer rally.
Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s Proclamation No. 01-25 also directed national and local government offices, including government-owned and controlled corporations, to maintain a skeleton workforce for that day.
The order cited Section 16 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, which grants the local government unit the authority to declare measures “to ensure and support the promotion of health and safety, maintenance of peace and order, and preservation of comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.”
Additionally, the Department of Interior and Local Government also grants LGUs the power to suspend classes.
“This measure aims to ensure public order, safety, and the convenience of Dabawenyos as ten (10) major streets within the city’s business district will be temporarily closed during the conduct of the peace rally,” it said.
On Jan. 7, 2025, lawmakers passed Resolution No. 04022 requesting Duterte to arrange a skeleton workforce for state workers in anticipation of the traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, in a City Information Office report, Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) head Angel Sumagaysay said suspending classes will significantly reduce the workload of traffic enforcers.
“INC said that the event will push through, rain or shine. We expect over 300,000 participants on Monday coming into the city and converging within the downtown area, which will result in traffic and congestion. While we have a full traffic and security plan in place, the suspension of work and classes will be helpful. We can avoid inconvenience among students and employees in the city. This will also allow us to focus on the security of the people directly participating in the rally,” Sumagaysay said.
Police ready
Meanwhile, the Davao City Police Office announced that it’s already ready to secure participants in the prayer rally.
Captain Hazel Caballero-Tuazon, spokesperson for the DCPO, said they are finalizing the number of security personnel to be deployed that day. They also sent the request to the Police Regional Office XI to augment their manpower.
“An estimated 2,451 personnel from DCPO alone will be deployed, but it is not yet final since a meeting will be conducted tomorrow [Jan.10],” Tuazon said.
The official said that they will conduct a soft deployment along the roads that will be closed.
The following streets will be partially closed from 9 p.m. on January 11 until 7:59 a.m. on Jan. 13 and will be fully closed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. of Jan. 13 for the National Rally for Peace of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in Davao City:
San Pedro; C.M. Recto; Pelayo; Inigo; C. Bangoy; Rizal; Bonifacio; Palma Gil ; Bolton; City Hall Drive; and C. Bangoy.
The Davao City Coastal Bypass Road from Tulip Drive to Bago Aplaya will also be partially closed on Jan. 13.
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