Coast Guard secures Iligan port

MANILA, Philippines - Amid reports that Maute militants have slipped into Iligan City, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assured the public yesterday that it is implementing tight security at the city port.

 Cmdr. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the PCG to take over security at the Iligan port on May 26.

“We are coordinating with the Philippine Ports Authority and other stakeholders... We deployed additional personnel at checkpoints,” said Balilo. 

He said they are also checking the identity of those fleeing Iligan to ensure that they are only residents affected by the crisis and not terrorists.  

Balilo said they are strictly implementing a “no ID, no entry” policy.

He said the PCG also heightened security at sea ports accross the country.

Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte may implement a curfew from midnight to 4 a.m. while martial law is in effect in Mindanao, according to the the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The Agusan del Norte peace and order council passed a resolution recommending the curfew to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, according to Lilibeth Farmacion, DILG-Caraga director.

Agusan del Norte is about 275 kilometers or six hours and 30 minutes away from Marawi City.

Farmacion said a curfew is a precautionary measure not only against terrorism but also drug-related incidents and lawless violence. – Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe