Mindanaotoday.com | NorMin supporters await BBM-Sara rally in Oro
AFTER several unverified dates that had been circulating in social media the past few weeks, supporters from Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and other areas in the region have finally got the final date of the grand rally of presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and the rest of the UniTeam, which will be held at the Pelaez Sports Center Tuesday, April 26.
The Team BBM-Sara UniTeam regional headquarters here confirmed the said schedule on Sunday, April 24, through its Facebook page.
Prior to the announcement, on Saturday, April 23, social media content creator Berns J already confirmed the said schedule through his video on Facebook, as he will also be one of the hosts for the first part of the event.
“I just received the call and its final and its irrevocable, this is final on April 26 at Sports Center. We, supporters of BBM and Sara, let’s meet there,” Berns J said in his video.
After the announcement of the said content creator, many Kagay-anon supporters expressed their excitement, followed by the announcement of the Team BBM-Sara UniTeam regional headquarters, said to be the most reliable source when it comes to UniTeam events.
In an interview, Dave Cyruz Tilap of Mambatangan village, Manolo Fortich, Bukdinon, a solid BBM-Sara supporter, expressed his excitement as he personally wanted to hear the platforms of the Uniteam.
“Very thrilled and happy. For a very long time, now, finally, the UniTeam will visit the city of Cagayan de Oro. Aside from that, I also want to hear personally their platforms apart from the posts in social media,” Tilap said.
It can be recalled that many supporters here were expecting a rally in the first week of April after the UniTeam went to Malaybalay City in Bukidnon on March 31 for their grand rally.
In a phone interview on Sunday, Lt. Col. Ariel Philip Pontillas, the deputy director for operations of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), said the city police will be on full alert for the upcoming rally as they will be expecting thousands of BBM-Sara supporters.
Initially, the COCPO will deploy at least 100 police personnel starting Tuesday morning to provide security in the area, as well as for the politicians who will visit the city.
Pontillas said they will conduct a final meeting on Monday, April 25, to finalize the preparation as they also need to communicate with the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) for the implementation of the traffic scheme.
“Tomorrow (Monday, April 25) will be the final meeting with the RTA with regards to the traffic scheme for the upcoming rally. Accordingly, they will close [Don Apolinar] Velez street,” Pontillas said.
Pontillas urged the supporters to strictly adhere to the minimum public health standards in order to maintain the protection against the coronavirus disease 2019.
He also asked the full cooperation of the public to immediately report to the police if they notice something in the surrounding area that would affect the peace and security of the event.
“Please help us in monitoring also because there might be some individuals who would take advantage of the situation. However, that is part of our security planning to avoid this kind of incident,” Pontillas expressed.
For his part, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said in an interview Saturday, April 23, that the provincial government has already prepared the venue for the rally as well as the security for the dignitaries, sound system, parking area, and stage.
“Different sectors have already informed us they and their members will attend the rally. Most of them are supporters of BBM and Mayor Sara,” Emano added. (With reports from Jigger Jerusalem | MT)