Cops beef up security for ASEAN meet

CEBU, Philippines - Amid fears of possible spillover of the war in Marawi City, Police Regional Office-7 has assured that security forces in Cebu are ready for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) senior ministers meeting next month.

PRO-7 spokesperson Senior Inspector ReslynAbella said security measures are in place.

“Updating nalang ni sa deployment and tightening sa security. Ang mga previous nato gihimo ato lang gi-improve. Mas tightened atong security, masgi-update nato atong capability,” Abella said.

She said they are just adopting the preparations from the past hosting of ASEAN meetings. Abella added that since the last ASEAN meetings in Cebu and Bohol in April they have not downgraded the alert status.

Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said the city force department has already started the process of strengthening soft spots by conducting inspections to check for outdated equipment and other related supply.

“Actually saatin, kasi hindi naman na lift ang full alert natin, so from the beginning, intact ‘yong personnel natin, at the same time we have conducted, ‘yong security operation doon sa previous na ASEAN,” Doria said.

He said security personnel had been deployed since yesterday. Doria assured the public that spillover of the war in Marawi City is a remote possibility because they are properly coordinating with their counterparts in the area.

“Meron tayong meeting with Muslim leaders, feeding information kung meron na bang nakarating dito, but wala pay report. May mga paunti-unti na dumadating pero properly documented na man ‘yon,” Doria said.

Doria said they are in constant communication with the city intelligence to validate information and improve information gathering in order to preempt emergency situations.

“Constant communi-cation with our intel community, exchange of information palagi, ‘yong intel natin they have to exert more effort in gathering information at mag validate. We always have to stay on guard, mahirap naman na maging complacent tayo,” Doria said.

Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak also led the personnel of the Public Safety Battalion in conducting roving and foot patrol in the rural areas to check the capability of the police in the mountain barangays.

Tumulak, deputy mayor on police matters, said there is a need to secure the mountain barangays since there are several entry points from other local government units of the province.

“This is part sa atong continuous monitoring. So far, walay cited nga armed people sa atong kabukiran pero dili gyud ta mokompyansa, dapat vigilant pirmi ang kapolisan ug ang publiko,” he told THE FREEMAN.

Tumulak said they have visited the police detachments in mountain areas during the random foot patrol last Sunday and Monday.He said the authorities are also checking on the threats and vulnerability of the rural areas of the city.

The city’s mountain barangays are connected to the local government units of Danao City, Consolacion town, Toledo City, Balamban, and Compostela.

“Nag conduct pod ta’g risk assessment sa atong kabukiran labi na ang entry points nato. Apil pod namo og check ang atong PSB o kaning Police sa Barangay,” he said.There are over 20 members of PSB in mountain areas.

Tumulak said the city is also assessing the needed equipment for the police detachments in the mountain barangays.As of now, he said the city has been giving additional allowances to police officers who are assigned in the mountain areas.

He did not divulge the number of security personnel assigned in the mountain barangay for security reasons.

“Random ta ning buhaton ang foot patrol para ma-ensure nato nga secure ang syudad ilabina ang atong mountain barangays,” he said.

Tumulak said it is also part of the intelligence gathering of the authorities. The official appealed for the support of the public.

“We can’t do this kung walay tabang sa community. Tabangan nato ni. Tabangan nato atong kapolisan ug mga kasundalohan,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale advised the public to stop sharing unverified information online following a leaked document circulated on social media about a supposed terror attack on June 30.

Magpale said that while the public should always be vigilant, it is also important to be responsible in posting or sharing anything online.

“We should continue to be vigilant. But ihangyo sad nato sa tanan nga dili sa unta nato ipasa ang mga information nga wala pa na verify,” Magpale said. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila, JeanMarvette A. Demecillo, and Apple Grace C. Danuco (FREEMAN)