THE PUBLIC Safety and Security Office reiterated on Thursday that the crowd during the Rody @80 rally in Davao City reached at least 300,000.
“We stand firm with our assessment with the CTTMO and CDRRMO,” PSSO chief Angel Sumagaysay said they pre-counted the number during the planning phase of the event, along with the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO).
“During the planning phase, giingnan nako si Col. Abude (CTTTMO head) kung pwede kompyuton nila pila ang kapasidad sa kalsada,” Sumagaysay added.
He stressed that the CTTMO computed the total number with the aim of securing the crowd and preventing a stampede. The computation was based on the length of the road and capacity per square meter, which four persons can fill.
The total computed estimate reached 205,520, but this excluded the sidewalks, which were also occupied by the attendees.
It was noted that the CM Recto to Roxas Avenue has an approximate area of 16,360 sqm, hence, the estimated heads were 65,000.
From JP Laurel to Sta. Avenue, which has an area of approximately 8,000 sqm, yielded 32,000 heads.
Jacinto St. from Ateneo de Davao University to Ponciano Rotunda with 1,400 sqm had 5,600 estimated heads.
Meanwhile, Roxas Avenue to Quezon Boulevard, which was the longest stretch with 25,600 sqm, yielded an estimate of 102,400.
“This is excluding the intersections occupied, such as the Padre Faura to Sta. Ana, so if we included it, siguro mo-sobra ta,” he said.
He stressed that the estimated crowd had to be more or less 300,000, contrary to the claims of the Philippine National Police and the count of Police Regional Office XI.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said on Sunday that there were only 60,000 attendees for the pro-Duterte rallies in 200 areas nationwide. Meanwhile, PRO XI spokesperson Maj. Catherine dela Rey said 96,100 participated in Davao Region rallies.
