For deployment to marawi: Cops in CV ready

CEBU, Philippines - A company of policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion in Region-7 is ready to support soldiers fighting members of the Maute group in Marawi City in Mindanao.

Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7 Director Noli Taliño said the group is ready for deployment if Camp Crame gives the go signal.

“Naka-ready naman tayo ng one company of our public safety unit from RPSB (Regional Public Safety Battalion-7) kung kina-kailangan,” Taliño said.

Taliño said one company is usually composed of 80 to 150 platoons, which consist of around 300 to 800 RPSB officers.

 In a recent report, at least 15 soldiers and 61 suspected members of the Maute rebels died in the gunfights in Marawi.

 The remaining Maute members have reportedly killed at least 19 civilians.

 The Maute group is also known as Dawlah Islamiya Philippines, which supports hatred to non-Muslims. It has claimed allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

 Taliño assured anew that security measures are in place in the region.

“Naka in-place ang ating security system pero we cannot avoid kung merong mag-e-evacuate dito. Ang trabaho lang naman natin is to maintain ang peace and order at saka i-check, i-monitor ang security natin dito sa Central Visayas,” he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said earlier it has raised a “red alert”status in Central Visayas.

Sea boarders around the Visayas region are now being monitored to prevent the entry of the Maute group here.

Security

Meanwhile, following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao one week ago, the Mactan Cebu International Airport has put stricter security measures in place.

MCIA General Manager Steve Dicdican said the airport is still under Security Condition 2.

Security Condition 2 means profiling and strict assessment at checkpoints, and removal of shoes at x-ray machines.

"Mangayo na lang ko ug pasaylo sa mga pasahero for that. Can't be helped kay security trumps convenience," Dicdican said.

Military men are also securing the airports.

Meanwhile, Governor Hilario Davide III is set to meet with members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), as well as officials of the Muslim communities in Cebu, on June 1 to discuss the Marawi situation.

“We’ll ask them unsa pay ilang mahatag nato nga information,” Davide said, anticipating evacuees from Mindanao to Cebu.

He said that while Cebu will welcome the evacuees, vigilance is still necessary as Maute group members may manage to slip in.

Davide assured the province will not tolerate discrimination of any sort against Muslims.

He said Capitol is now contemplating how best to extend assistance to the victims of the crisis, but is not bent on sending personnel there for security reasons.

He said the best option is to course the assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (FREEMAN)