President, opposition senatorial bets ‘no show’ in Davao Day

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio distributes food packs to Davaoeños after the 82nd Araw ng Davao culmination parade on Friday. A total of 50 cows were roasted to feed the swelling crowd. Orlando B. Dinoy

DAVAO CITY — After President Duterte failed to show up in two events here the previous night, the President also did not show up on the 82nd year of Araw ng Dabaw here although there was no schedule for his public appearance on the city charter day.

Except for Jiggy Manicad, who is running for senator, and other politicians under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), the “Parada Davaoeño” was joined only by a handful of politicians.

Earlier, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had announced that all the candidates were welcome to join the parade, as long as they would not throw away freebies and campaign materials to the crowd.

None of the opposition candidates from Otso Diretso, however, had attended the culmination day of the 82nd Araw ng Davao on Friday.

City Treasurer Erwin Alparaque, over-all parade coordinator, told reporters that no opposition group signified an intention to join the parade since the city set the March 8 deadline for registration.

Alparaque told reporters a total of 380 contingents joined the ‘Parada Davaoeño, the highlight of the weeklong celebration.

“This is a bigger parade compared to last year when we only had 338 contingents,” he said.

Local and national employees of various government agencies, police, military, private and public schools, colleges, universities and private sectors were seen during the parade.

Duterte-Carpio, who stayed in front of the stage near the City Hall, waved placards which said “Thank You” and “Happy Araw ng Davao” to the crowd.

During the interview with reporters, she invited everybody to eat lunch at Claveria where 50 roasted cows were prepared.

Former Special Assistant to the President and senatorial candidate Bong Go did not join the parade but a vehicle marked with his name with a puppet outside was there.

Questions about the President’s schedule and whereabouts remained unanswered.

Duterte, who has been here since Friday, had skipped the PDP-Laban Grand Rally at the Crocodile Park in Ma-a and the distribution of Certificate of Land Ownership in U.M. Matina campus on Friday night.

Go said in a Viber message that the president was temporarily ‘indisposed.’/lzb