People’s brigade to secure Palaro guests

Koronadal City – The city government has formed a "people’s brigade" to secure the safety of an estimated 12,000 people, including athletes and coaches who arrived here to participate in the country’s biggest annual sports event, the Palarong Pambansa 2007.

This city is hosting this year’s weeklong Palarong Pambansa. The games will start today and will end on April 28.

President Arroyo was invited as guest speaker but city officials said yesterday that no confirmation was given by Malacañang if she is gracing the event.

City Mayor Fernando Miguel said the creation of the people’s brigade is part of the city’s "strong security plan" to ensure the safety of Palarong Pambansa delegates from the country’s 17 regions.

"Delegates have nothing to worry. The entire city is flooded with members of the people’s brigade. Their billeting centers have also been guarded. They can roam around the city without worrying about their safety," Miguel told The STAR in a cellphone interview.

Miguel said he already ordered Superintendent Florendo Quidilla, the city police chief, to implement tight monitoring in streets, police visibility and round-the-clock patrol in various parts, especially entertainment places, in the city.

"Don’t be surprised if you see people wearing green T-shirts in the streets. They are members of the people’s brigade. Just approach them if you have problems and they will assist you," Miguel said.

He added that the brigade’s members are under instruction to always extend "courtesy" and "assistance" to the city’s athletes and visitors from other places.

"I am very confident about the safety of the delegates here because we have planned all the necessary security measures for the overall safety of the delegates," said Miguel, who was criticized by his political enemies for hiring members of the brigade.

South Cotabato deputy police director Superintendent Datu Nasser Pendatun said a contingent of policemen from the police regional mobile group was deployed to augment security measures implemented by the city police office.