Police on full alert ahead of Holy Week

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

CAMP Alagar has ordered all police offices in the region to start putting in place security measures and to strictly implement the National Police’s “Oplan Sumvac” and “Oplan Banal na Araw.”

This early, the police have gone on full alert in northern Mindanao, said Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Lemwel Gonda over the weekend.

Gonda said all city and provincial police offices have received instructions from police director for northern Mindanao Chief Supt. Agripino Javier to start securing areas where people would gather, vital public installations, airports, ports,  bus terminals, malls, markers, plazas and churches, among others.

Gonda said water and power facilities would also be secured by the police.

Security in Camiguin, where the “Panaad 2017” is scheduled next week, would be beefed up, he said.

Gonda said the police would be strict as it implements the security measures in time for next week’s religious activities and all throughout the summer months when people come to enjoy their vacation.

But he said Javier also directed police officials to make sure that civil liberties are respected in the implementation of the twin security plans.

“Gusto gyud ni General Javier nga dili makaporma ang mga bad elements. That’s why iya gyud nga gi-full alert ang entire  region,” Gonda said.

He said city and provincial police directors were authorized by Javier to field troops as they see fit.

Camp Alagar, he said, would closely monitor the police operations in the cities and provinces.

Gonda said the police would closely coordinate with the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection,  Department of Health, local governments and other government offices that have separate plans for Holy Week and the summer months.

Chief Insp. Mardy Hortillosa, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, said a thousand officers were preparing for fieldwork next week on orders of city police director Senior Supt. Robert Roy Bahian.

Hortillosa said the police would be very visible in the city from 6 am on April 13 up to 5 pm on April 14.

“Pero red alert na ta pagsulod sa Holy Week,” Hortillosa said.

Meanwhile, rescue units of city hall and the capitol are also preparing for the summer vacation and the Holy Week.

Allan Porcadilla, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department, said they finished mapping out their rescue plans during a coordination meeting. The coordination meeting included representatives from the police, Army, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Health Office, Roads and Traffic Administration, and radio communication groups.

“Ako ang ground commander ani ug ang tagsa-tagsa nga team, na-ay ilang lain-laing mga tahas–urban search and recue team, paramedics team, ug uban uban pa,” Porcadilla said.

Porcadilla said they would set up an “incident management command post” along the road leading to Malasag in Barangay Cugman and at the entrance of the “Birhen sa Guadalupe” in Barangay Tablon. Religious devotees flock to these areas during the Holy Week each year.

At the capitol, the Provincial  Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office has also prepared its rescue teams in time for the summer vacation and the Holy Week.

Capitol spokesperson Nicole Managbanag said the rescue teams would keep an eye on the Sipaka Point in Talisayan, Balingoan Port, Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador City, “Birhen sa Mo-og” in Laguindingan, and Medina where the Hinuklog Festival would be held.