With the aim to formulate strategies in addressing current issues in Mindanao, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Catalino Cuy led the discussion of concerns through the 2nd Quarter Special Meeting of the National Peace and Order (NPOC) held in Cagayan de Oro City.
Together with the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons-Mindanao Cluster, the meeting also raised concerns on extremism, criminalities, and illegal drugs. Also, reports on the current situation in Mindanao concerning the threats on terrorism and insurgency were deliberated, as well as the proposed Local Government Martial Law Guidelines.
As to the enhancement of security in the involved areas, Cuy said in a press conference held after the meeting, “There are already augmentations to Marawi from adjacent police office and special action force.”
“It’s substantial to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its effort to clear Marawi from terrorist groups,” he added.
According to Cuy, there was a noticeable downward trend of criminalities in Region 10, as reported by Philippine National Police. With this, he affirms that this will be favorable to the tourism industry in the Region, recalling that it was adversely affected during the start of the siege.
Moreover, DILG 10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe enjoins the citizens to report to the police and the military information that would be substantial in addressing the safety and security concerns in Mindanao.
“Makita nato kung unsa ka kritikal karon ang lihok sa gobyerno para malikayan ang terrorism and avoid spill over sa Marawi sa uban pang lugar sa Mindanao,” Agabe said. “This will not be successful without the help of the public.”
To heighten the knowledge of the force multipliers when it comes to determining acts that are suspicious, a training is proposed to tackle on behavior profiling. This would also include on teaching them the physical property of explosives and improvised explosive devices and raising anti-terrorism awareness which will be conducted in coordination with National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. (dilg x)
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