THE Davao City Public Safety & Security Command Center (PSSCC) discouraged members of the Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. (Kapa) to stage their prayer rally in the city.
This came on the heels of Kapa founder Pastor Joel Apolinario urging his members, through the ministry's YouTube channel posted on Friday, June 7, to stage the prayer in Davao City.
"Sa Davao dapat ang prayer rally para maramdaman ng pangulo kung gaano tayo karami (Let us stage the prayer rally in Davao City so that the President would see how many we are)," Apolinario said while reading some of their members' online comments.
The pastor added, "Doon tayo sa Davao, paparalyze-in natin 'yung traffic (Let's paralyze the traffic in Davao City)."
He said they targeted the city, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, to air their grievances to the government for harassing its members.
PSSCC head Benito de Leon, meanwhile, called on the group to reconsider their plans of having the protest in the city so that it will not cause inconvenience to motorists.
Although De Leon said the group is welcome to conduct their protest in the city given they have the necessary permits.
"Sana 'wag nalang nilang guluhin itong Davao. (I hope they will not go here and disturb Davao City). But just in case, we will have to proceed in dialogue with their leaders so that they do not unnecessary disturb the peace and order of Davao City," he said.
On Sunday, June 9, Kapa stopped accepting any transaction until further notice.
For his part, Colonel Alexander Tagum, director of the Davao City Police Office reminded members of the Kapa to secure first a permit before conducting prayer rally in the city.
He confirmed receiving information on the impending rally by the members of the Kapa through the social media.
Tagum also clarified that the Kapa has not applied for any permit to rally in the city.
He assured the readiness of the police to handle the situation should the Kapa insist on holding a prayer rally here to dramatize their opposition of the national government’s position to stop its activities.
The President, on Saturday, June 8, had ordered the National Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the police to investigate these investment schemes and close them down, including Kapa. (With reports from PIA)