Police closely guard C. Mindanao terminals vs terror attacks

Koronadal City – Police are now closely watching all private and public terminals in Central Mindanao to prevent another bomb attack from terrorist groups operating in Mindanao.

Central Mindanao police director Chief Superintendent Felizardo Serapio said he already ordered all police units in the entire region to be on alert and intensify their intelligence monitoring against the presence and movements of suspicious characters present at the vicinity of public and private terminals.

“They were under instruction to maintain alert status against the activities of lawless elements whose aim is to sow chaos and fears to the public,” Serapio said in a long distance interview yesterday.

Serapio issued the order to the city, municipal and provincial police offices following the latest bomb attack inside the public terminal in Midsa­yap, North Cotabato last Thursday that killed one person and injured five others, including two children.

Police are still determining the motive and the group responsible to such attack.

In the cities of Koronadal, Tacurong and General Santos, the police offices there deployed some of its plainclothes personnel to conduct intelligence monitoring inside and outside of the terminals.

K-9 bomb sniffing dogs were also deployed to inspect all the baggages entering the terminals.

Police visibility was also increased in the terminals of the cities, presumed to be the potential targets of terrorists.

Serapio urged the public to help the police in watching their surroundings because the people also play a big role in the government’s efforts to crackdown the terrorists.

“Hindi kayang bantayan palagi at pangalagaan ng mga police natin ang isang locality. The support of the people is necessary. The business of preventing terrorists from attacking their localities is also the business of the people,” Serapio said. – Ramil Bajo