Duterte assures safety of Palaro bets

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has assured the safety of the estimated 15,000 athletes and officials who will take part in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa on May 3 to 9 in Tagum, Davao del Norte.

Known as the region’s strongman and anti-crime czar, Duterte recently declared that there is no “clear and present danger” in the games as he assumes his role as the Regional Peace and Order Council 11 chair.

During a recent meeting of the RPOC-11, Duterte said the threat level in the weeklong Palaro is only three on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest level.

But Duterte said the organizers must not let their guards down and implement maximum security measures especially since the participants are mostly elementary and high school students.

“The reaction of government is always the same be it one or 10 (security threat level),” said Duterte. “I expect nothing but I’m prepared for everything.”

He also appealed to armed groups like the communist New Peoples’ Army to “stay away from the games.” Marc Anthony Reyes