Cebu security to remain strict even without SAF

CEBU, Philippines —  Authorities have assured that security will remain strict in Cebu City even with the departure of the 151 members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) who were earlier sent here to help enforce quarantine regulations and protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The SAF troopers, who were here for a month and two weeks since June 27, gathered in a send-off ceremony yesterday in Barangay Tisa.

Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, Police Regional Office-7 director, said there will only be minimal adjustment to the security implementation, now that the troopers are out of the picture.

Members of the PRO-7’s Crisis Response Battalion, numbering at least 600, will be taking over the responsibilities left by the troopers.

The battalion, Ferro said, was formed in March and has been training since then.

“There will be no problem. We will initiate the same protocol that we have been doing since March,” he said.

Ferro said that the police have already established regional integrated contact tracing operation centers that will be a big help to the contact tracers in informing authorities in case an emergency arises.

He said that based on ground assessment, he will be recommending for the continuation of the general community quarantine in Cebu City, at least until September.

“Again, I have seen how the Cebuanos are reacting. (They) are very cooperative but we need to emphasize na we don’t want to go back, na di na ta mobalik sa ECQ. So ato lang i-maintain the gains that we have,” said Ferro.

The send-off yesterday was graced by Mayor Edgardo Labella, who expressed gratitude to the SAF troopers’ services as he emphasized that no one among the forces tested positive for COVID-19 during two rounds of testing.

Aside from Labella, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, retired General Mel Feliciano and Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera were also present during the ceremony.

Ferro had requested that SAF’s presence in Cebu be extended until end of August, but the request was declined after the recent surge in the number of cases in the National Capital Region where more warm bodies are now needed to enforce security measures. — KQD (FREEMAN)