All eyes on Rodrigo Duterte in Cebu ahead of thanksgiving party where 80,000 people are expected to attend

  CEBU CITY - A week before he sits in the highest position in the country, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is getting the treatment of a sitting president having the watchful eyes of hundreds of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) on him. Duterte, who complained earlier of the presence of the members of PSG in a visit here, will be in Cebu on Friday (June 24) for the second time to attend the thanksgiving celebration organised for him by his supporters here. Duterte won in Cebu province with 1,022,805 votes from 726,559 votes in Cebu province and 296,246 votes in Cebu City. He led about half a million votes against Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Mar Roxas. There will be hundreds of PSG personnel deployed at the Sugbo grounds at the South Road Properties in Cebu City where at least 80,000 people are expected to attend.

Tighter security

Their presence would mean tighter security for all attendees. As early as Thursday, organizers have warned Cebuanos and those who will be there later at the venue to avoid bringing big backpacks or bottled water bought from outside the venue. The advisory was issued by organizers of "One Love, One Nation". Organizer Doris Mongaya said those attending the free concert should expect to be frisked by members of the PSG. She asked Duterte's supporters not to bring big backpacks due to security concerns since these are large enough to contain sharp objects and even firearms or bombs. "They can bring those small ones (backpacks)," she added. "The bigger the bag, the longer it takes to check the items inside." Mongaya said umbrellas would be allowed in the venue since it might rain. Supporters were also advised not to bring bottled water bought from outside the venue since there were vendors accredited by PSG inside Sugbo grounds. No placards and banners are also allowed because these would affect the line of sight of the PSG personnel while securing Duterte. Drones would be barred from flying over the venue to take photos. "Please don't bring the items not allowed so as not to slow down the security check at the entrance of the venue," Mongaya said. She added that supporters of the incoming president can go to the venue as early as 2 pm, two hours before the start of the concert to be showcased by at least 20 performers.JTNDJTIxLS0lMjBDb2RlcyUyMGJ5JTIwSFRNTC5hbSUyMC0tJTNFJTBBJTBBJTNDJTIxLS0lMjBDU1MlMjBDb2RlJTIwLS0lM0UlMEElM0NzdHlsZSUyMHR5cGUlM0QlMjJ0ZXh0JTJGY3NzJTIyJTIwc2NvcGVkJTNFJTBBYS5HZW5lcmF0ZWRMaW5rJTNBbGluayUyMCU3QiUwQWZvbnQtc2l6ZSUzQThweCUzQnRleHQtZGVjb3JhdGlvbiUzQW5vbmUlM0Jjb2xvciUzQSUyMzAwMDAzMyUzQmJhY2tncm91bmQtY29sb3IlM0ElMjNmOWY1ZjUlM0IlMEElN0QlMEFhLkdlbmVyYXRlZExpbmslM0F2aXNpdGVkJTIwJTdCJTBBY29sb3IlM0ElMjMwMDAwMzMlM0IlMEElN0QlMEFhLkdlbmVyYXRlZExpbmslM0Fob3ZlciUyMCU3QiUwQWNvbG9yJTNBJTIzRkY2NjMzJTNCJTBBJTdEJTBBYS5HZW5lcmF0ZWRMaW5rJTNBYWN0aXZlJTIwJTdCJTBBY29sb3IlM0ElMjNGRjk5MDAlM0IlMEElN0QlMEElM0MlMkZzdHlsZSUzRSUwQSUwQSUwQSUzQ2ElMjBjbGFzcyUzRCUyMkdlbmVyYXRlZExpbmslMjIlMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5leHBhdG1lZGlhLm5ldCUyRmFkdmVydGlzZS13aXRoLXVzJTIyJTIwdGFyZ2V0JTNEJTIyX2JsYW5rJTIyJTIyJTNFQURWRVJUSVNFJTIwSEVSRSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZleHBhdG1lZGlhLm5ldCUyRmNsYXNzaWZpZWRzJTJGJTIyJTNFJTBBJTNDaW1nJTIwYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIyMCUyMiUyMGFsdCUzRCUyMkZpbmQlMjBvciUyMHBvc3QlMjBuZXclMjBqb2JzJTJDJTIwbW90b3IlMjBhZHMlMjBhbmQlMjBjbGFzc2lmaWVkcyUyMiUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZleHBhdG1lZGlhLm5ldCUyRndwLWNvbnRlbnQlMkZ1cGxvYWRzJTJGMjAxNiUyRjA1JTJGRmluZC15b3VyLW5leHQtam9iLTIuanBnJTIyJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjIxMDAlMjUlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIxMDAlMjUlMjIlM0UlMEElM0MlMkZhJTNFJTBBJTNDYnIlM0UlMEElM0NiciUzRSUwQSUzQyUyMS0tJTIwSFRNTCUyMENvZGUlMjAtLSUzRQ==