HEIGHTENED SECURITY. Ret. Gen. Benito de Leon, chief of Public Safety and Security Coordinating Council of Davao assures the public that they will be securing the city from any threat of terrorism after President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement of ending peace talks with the communists. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Public Safety and Security Coordinating Council of Davao said the military and police will be taking active measures against elements “that seek havoc within the city.”
Ret. Gen. Benito de Leon, PSSCC chief, assured that terrorist threats “cannot come in the city.”
“Sa labas pa lang, nakikita na, nababantayan. (From outside the city they will be monitored),” De Leon said. “There will be more probing patrols, groups will be searched and patrolled.”
He said that the city will have more aggressive patrolling of police and military, and to have more aggressive checkpoints and inspections on the three exit points of Davao.
This announcement came after the recent pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte of ending their ceasefire declaration against the New People’s Army. On Saturday, Duterte announced to end talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and a day after, he declared the communist as terrorist group.
Brig. General Gilbert Gapay, commander of anti-terrorist unit Task Force Haribon, said that even during ceasefire, they have monitored “movements” of NPA forces.
“They continue to do this, consolidating of forces, atrocities,” Gapay said.
“So if they did these during ceasefire, what more if the ceasefire from both sides were lifted,” Gapay added.
The military officer said that the city, and the region as a whole stays as a threat to NPA.
“Yes, [they] remain threat to the city,” Gapay said. “We are anticipating the effect of this.”
Gen. Gapay, however did not discount the “possibility” that the NPA will enter into an alliance with terrorist groups known to be present in Mindanao.
“It is not remote possibility [for NPA] to have tactical alliance with other terrorist groups,” Gapay
As of now, Gapay said the TFH have not received any report yet of terror inside the city, “but it [the city] remains a target being the home of the President, coupled with economic development gatherings.”
“This adds up as Davao [being] a very good target city,” he said.
