Sagbayan ‘bomb threats’ negative

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 announced that reports of bomb threats in a police station in Sagbayan town in Bohol were found to be negative.

Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, PRO-7 director, told reporters yesterday that the report received by his office said Sagbayan Police Station in Bohol got threats but when police intelligence conducted validation, the result was negative.

“Nakarating din sa atin yung information, pina-check naman natin to, negative naman… Yung bomb threat, kung saan-saan galing yun,” Taliño said.

He, however, said other police stations in Central Visayas have not received similar threats as he vowed that police are always on alert.

Taliño’s statement came after three pieces of luggage were reportedly found by the wall near the Gate 2 of Camp Crame, the national police headquarters in Manila, at around 9 a.m. last May 29. It alerted all police personnel in the area.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Capanzana, chief of staff of PNP Explosive Ordinance Division, said that when the PNP bomb squad checked the pieces of luggage, no explosive devices were found, only personal items such as a cellphone and a power bank.

Along with the alleged bomb threats, the presence of armed persons allegedly members of New People’s Army (NPA), were reportedly spotted in Toledo City, Cebu but Taliño said they have yet to validate such information with the help of police intelligence.

If ever residents in the area found suspicious persons, the best thing that they can do is to report them to the nearest police office.

“Kung magiging active sila (NPA), kung saan-saan sila pumupunta, makikita ng mga tao, ang gawin nila dyan ay i-report nila sa pinakamalapit na police,” Taliño added.

Taliño, however, still advised policemen assigned in remote areas to stay alert and vigilant as one of the objectives of armed person is to attack unguarded government offices.

“Yan naman ang isang objective nila, is to attack government forces na hindi naka-handa, hindi naka-prepare kaya we always direct and advise our lower units especially yung mga police stations natin na nasa remote na lugar o bayan na laging nakahanda sila for any NPA attack, atrocities na gagawin nitong mga NPA,” Taliño said.

Recently, Taliño alerted police chiefs in the midwestern part of  Cebu province as the place is just 41 kilometers away from Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental where sightings of armed men were reported.

He also ordered strict monitoring of vital installations of the police stations in the said area.

After this, Colonel Medel Aguilar, information officer of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the armed men could be members of the NPA based on the area’s history of insurgency.

Taliño and Aguilar assured, though, that Central Visayas is safe and security is high. (FREEMAN)