DAVAO CITY — Over forty thousand (4,000) residents from the various Barangays in Davao City started lining up at Christmas dawn in Taal, Barangay Bangkal of this city to receive the annual Christmas gift from the family of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The event, dubbed as Pahalipay sa Taal, no one goes home empty handed as thousands of gifts were given and artists entertain the visitors.
Task Force Davao spokesperson Capt. Louie Dimaala said the police based on the numbers his unit and the Davao City Police Office monitored “It is over 40,000 people and they started to converge as early as 1:00 in the morning on Christmas Day.”
Talomo Police Precinct Chief Major Rose Aguilar was on top of the situation as briefings were done the night before the event.
It has become a tradition for the Duterte’s to break bread with Davao people from all walks of life on Christmas Day.
Personnel from Task Force Davao and Davao City Police Office secured the area since late night of December 23 to ensure that everyone is safe and every bag and individual went through a security check before entering the cordoned area.
Everyone had their packed lunch, gift certificates, and raffle prizes were also handed to lucky winners.
The event wrapped at around 3:00 in the afternoon.
