DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Authorities here are set to tighten security this Holy week following Wednesday’s explosion in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said it would deploy its personnel in a multi-layered security plan in all public places including ports, airport, terminals, bypass roads and all places of convergence in the city.
The Police Regional Office (PRO) XI would field an additional 100 personnel aside from mobilizing police auxiliaries and barangay tanods.
DCPO spokesperson Police Senior Inspector (PSI) Ma. Teresita Gaspan told media during Thursday’s I-Speak media forum that, they already took serious consideration on the security issue of the city even before the terror attack in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat that wounded 18 individuals.
“Since it is a week-long celebration of the Lenten season, all personnel are deployed in all activities in the city,” said Gaspan.
Authorities would still be implementing the ‘No Back Pack’ in all churches as ordered by Mayor Sara Duterte- Carpio.
DCPO said it would be visible in all Catholic churches and mosques.
Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) Chief, retired General Benito de Leon, it would be visible in all 38 churches in the city and would mobilize more than 1,000 personnel including the members of DCPO, Armed Forces, Task Force Davao, Central 911 and the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO).
De Leon said all closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, also known as video surveillance camera, is mobilized to monitoring the security of the city.
“All streets have CCTV camera that can help us in monitoring the situation of the city. There are also an additional 200 cameras that will soon to be installed in key areas of the city,” said De Leon.
The Task Force Davao will also deploy its own personnel to 14 places of worships including the conduct of regular roving of its personnel and the implementation of the ‘No Backpack’ policy.
In a statement, Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, deputy commander of Task Force Davao told media that they would install four walk-in x-rays and two baggage x-rays in its Lasang and Sirawan checkpoints to check all public utility vehicle passengers.
The x-ray scanners would be installed before the influx of passengers on the Holy Week season and would be a permanent tool for security protocol of the Task Force Davao in all individuals entering the city.
“Right now we are trying to do a manual inspection that causes too much time and traffic among vehicles lining up on our checkpoint, but with the coming of x-rays we will solve the one aspect of traffic and delays” Cabangbang added.
As of 2018, Task Force Davao has monitored around 1,500 vehicles going in and out of Lasang and Sirawan checkpoints.
“The public should not worry because we have already maxed out the deployment of our troops in every area,” said Cabangbang.
The Task Force Davao has deployed additional personnel to all bus transportation fielded by the local government. They also have an intelligence group monitoring all passengers. (davaotoday.com)
