WITH the implementation of tight security measures and heavy deployment of security personnel, the conduct of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa has been generally peaceful.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Alexander Tagum said the weeklong staging of the annual athletic game, which was held in 26 playing venues around the city, has been orderly with no major untoward incidents.
The Palarong Pambansa, the country’s biggest sports event, opened on April 28 with President Rodrigo Duterte as the guest of honor and ended on May 4 at the Davao City-UP Mindanao Sports Complex in Mintal, Davao City.
The Police Regional Office in Davao (PRO) 11 earlier said around 4,000 participating units from the Security, Safety and Emergency Preparedness Response components, such as PRO 11, DCPO, Task Force Davao, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 11, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11, Philippine Coast Guard, Central 911, Maritime Group 11, Police Auxiliary, were sent off to conduct security coverage for the event.
Around 15,000 attendees, including the athletes, coaches and game officials, and family members, from 17 regions in the country were here to compete for their respective regions.
Police recorded a case of theft on Thursday morning, May 2. Authorities arrested a man for stealing the cellular phones of some athletes inside their quarters in Calinan Central Elementary School.
Meanwhile, based on the final result, the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) landed in the 11th spot while the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) defended its title as the overall champion.
In a Facebook post, the Department of Education (DepEd) congratulated all the learner-athletes, coaches, mentors, and delegates who took part in this multi-sport event.
The host of the 2020 Palarong Pambansa would be the province of Occidental Mindoro.
“We have witnessed once again a spectacular showcase of our learner-athletes’ grit, discipline, and sportsmanship during the successful run of the 62nd Palarong Pambansa,” the DepEd post read.