After US Embassy warning: Authorities move to secure south

CEBU, Philippines – Security measures in southern Cebu have been tightened following the advisory of the US Embassy for its citizens to avoid going there, especially around areas of Dalaguete and Santander towns, including Sumilon Island, due to alleged kidnapping threats from terrorist groups.

In particular, the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Central Command based in Cebu City said it launched Task Force "Pag Abog," which in Cebuano means "drive away," as one of the moves to implement a more stringent security for tourists and residents in southern Cebu.

Lieutenant General Raul Del Rosario, CentCom commander, said the task force will intensify maritime patrols in the southern portion of Cebu while in the process of validating the reports from the US Embassy. He also heightened the alert status of the entire CentCom.

He said the maritime patrols in southern Cebu are a joint operation with the Police Regional Office-7 and the Philippine Coast Guard.

"Central Command, AFP has received information about possible threats of kidnapping and immediately heightened its alert status," said Del Rosario, in a written statement.

He asked the public to closely coordinate with authorities and be vigilant against suspicious activities in their area.

Meanwhile, with rains throughout the day, Cebu City remains business as usual without any signs of panic from residents.

Local radio reporting from the southern towns also described the situation in areas mentioned by the US Embassy as peaceful.

Superintendent Eric Noble, Cebu Provincial Police Office director, also advised the public to remain calm despite the advisory, adding that security personnel were already posted in key areas frequented by tourists.

"The public is assured that it is safe to travel to the different tourist spots of Cebu. Your family's safety is important to us! Cebu Police Provincial Office has made sure that all the areas concerned have been posted with various PNP and AFP personnel. The different hotels and resorts of Cebu Province have been checked and advised on what to do in case of threats," he said in a press statement.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño reiterated that there was no specific threat in Central Visayas, particularly southern Cebu, and that the information is still subject for validation.

He said that after the advisory was released, everything was normal and peaceful.

"In fact, buong Region-7, Siquijor, Bohol, at Cebu, nag-augment na tayo ng security diyan before Undas kasi alam natin maraming mga tourists nagpupunta sa mga resorts," he said.

Asked if the advisory by the US Embassy was the result of reports of an alleged presence of Abu Sayyaf members in Cebu, Taliño said this is possible. But, he said, PRO-7 has already issued a statement that the report is not true.

He assured that if there are tourists who would request police escort, his office would be willing to provide it.

"Willing naman tayo mag-provide ng security kung mayron silang gustong puntahan," he said.

Noble, though, encouraged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station, or relay their concerns via the "Cebu Province PNP, PRO7" Facebook page.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña made the same recommendation, saying the public should be alert and observant of their surroundings, adding that anything is possible.

He admitted that the advisory had him worrying over the Sinulog celebration on the third Sunday of January 2017.

Inspector Deni Mari Pedrozo, Oslob Police Station chief, said security measures were already in place since All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

He said there are also augmentation personnel came from the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Regional Public Safety Battalion-7.

Pedrozo, who went to Bluewater Sumilon in Sumilon Island to personally do a security check, said resort owners were worried but they assured them that everything is under control.

Police Senior Inspector Abell Laborte of Dalaguete Police Station likewise said they already improved their security measures after the advisory came out. He said they advised the fisherfolks within their area to be more vigilant and report to their station "unknown motor bangka vehicles" docking in their respective communities.

Noble said he would also visit all police stations in southern Cebu tomorrow or within this week to inspect their security plans, which he said should be tightened considering the US Embassy advisory.

"Wag kayong patulog-tulog. Make sure all the security operations are being laid out.  'Wag munang pauwiin ang mga tao, wag mag relax. Kasi kung mag-relax tayo masingitan tayo di-yan.  Nakakahiya," he said.

Meanwhile, provincial tourism chief Joselito "Boboi" Costas said tourists, specifically foreign tourists, are still coming to southern Cebu despite the advisory released by the US Embassy.

He went to southern Cebu last Wednesday to personally check the situation of the towns, especially those that have tourist destinations, and learned that tourists are still coming and in fact there were a number of tourists going to Kawasan Falls in Badian town.

Costas said it is normal that tourism in a certain place will be affected once there's an advisory of security threat against a particular place. But he sees no reason for tourists not to visit Cebu.

"I don't see any reason why they won't come here, I mean, Cebu has been peaceful, it has always been a favorite destination of foreign tourists," Costas said, adding that the police personnel in southern Cebu are now monitoring areas there especially the place often visited by guests.

Governor Hilario Davide III, on the other hand, clarified that as of now, they did not receive any intelligence report regarding the kidnapping threat in southern Cebu and that the report of the US Embassy is still unverified.

"I do not know where the US embassy got this information, which para nako unverified pa gyud ba.  Just to be safe, we are not taking any chances.  Di' 'ta mokompiyansa sad ba kay maybe duna pud silay basis sab ba. Pero ako lang, we remain vigilant and watchful against any suspicious person nga magli-bot-libot ug suroy-suroy anang mga lugara.  Not only on this town but in other places often visited by tourists" he told reporters.

He said, though, that he observed that just a few American tourists come to Cebu, with Koreans as the ones who often visit the province. He, however, still urged the public, including the tourists, to be vigilant.

"Kay after all, kita man pud affected ana, whatever happens to them, kun unsay mahitabo aning mga turista, somehow ma-blame man pud ta ini nga wala nato sila, we didn't secure them,"  the governor said.

According to Costas, Americans are fourth in tourist arrival in Cebu with the Koreans being the largest followed by Japanese and Chinese. — Iris Mariani B. Algabre, Dale G. Israel And Le Phyllis F. Antojado

 / RHM (FREEMAN)