THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) estimated the crowd that attended the prayer rally at San Pedro Square on Sunday night, Jan. 28 to reach 53,500, some as far as Luzon and Visayas.
Nevertheless, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon said the rally ended at around 10:30 p.m. with no untoward incident.
“The primary aim of the safety and security forces in Davao City was to ensure the safety of everyone, with no problems encountered related to any forms of violence,” she said, crediting the cooperation of the public for the success of the activity.
The Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) deployed an additional 500 to 600 warm bodies who assisted the police during the rally.
The nationwide prayer rally was a way for Davaoeños to protest the signature campaign for a People’s Initiative to change the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte was present during the rally with his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte, and sons Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Congressman Paolo Duterte.
Former president Duterte’s speech focused on the issue of charter change through the people’s initiative and its disclosure that the current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was on the list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during his administration.
Duterte also called on the military and police to protect the constitution because it is their mandate.
