Security up in time for Duterte’s visit today, ahead of ‘kalag-kalag’

By NITZ ARANCON
and JOEY NACALABAN
Correspondents .

SECURITY efforts have been stepped up in the city in time for President Duterte’s scheduled visit here today and ahead of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day when thousands are expected to gather in cemeteries throughout the city.

Malacañang sent a team from the Presidential Security Group that met with police and military officials to map out a security plan.

Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Surki Sereñas said Duterte and members of his Cabinet would be in the city for the distribution of land titles by the Department of Agrarian Reform at the University of Science and Technology gym this afternoon.

But even without the presidential visit, the police have already come up with a security plan because of this week’s holidays.

City police spokesman Supt. Mardy Hortillosa said “it’s all systems go” as far as the security preparations for All Saints’ and All Souls’ days in the city.

“I-implement namo ug tarong ang among security plan pinaagi sa pag-supervise sa mga personnel sa atong mga supervisors,” Hortillosa said.

He said local officers were given strict instructions to be security conscious all the time as they keep watch.

Hortillosa said the police would also strictly implement ordinances pertaining to cemeteries.

“Kadtong bawal mag inum sulod sa sementeryo, bawal magdala og mga mahait nga butang, dili magpatukar og mga stereo, di magsegarilyo, ug uban pa maintain gihapon to,” Hortillosa said.

He said the local police has started coordinating with barangay officials and other government agencies to make the activities peaceful and orderly.

Allan Porcadilla, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Department, said city hall would start fielding members of the Incident Management Team  (IMT) to strategic crowded areas and cemeteries in the city today.

IMT is a quick response team formed to address security concerns during the holidays.

Headed by city fire marshall Richard Arbutante, its members would be fielded to to all cemeteries in the city.

“Example, moingon ang Bulua nga kinahanglan silag duha ka firetruck or kinahanglan silag dugang polis mubantay sa area or RTA ba kaha para sa ilang trapik, immediately, the IMT will act on it,” Porcadilla said.

Porcadilla said the IMT would set up a command center, and command posts in cemeteries. The IMT operations would start at noon today until Nov. 3.

Earlier, Mayor Oscar Moreno reactivated the IMT, recalled its members, and tasked them to help in assisting people who are expected to visit cemeteries this week.

Moreno also reactivated the Task Force Oro for the security operations. The task force includes the police and the military.

At the same time, Moreno ordered the City Disaster Risk Management Team, including the Oro Rescue and city hall’s emergency medical specialists, to be on alert and respond to emergency situations especially during the holidays.

City hall would be fielding some 200 Roads and Traffic Administration members to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular traffic especially on Thursday and Friday.

In Misamis Oriental, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office under Fernando Dy to ensure security in the province’s 77 public cemetery and 13 private cemeteries.

“We will field personnel to the cemeteries in shifts. All responders and assets of the government will be on standby and available,” Dy said.

He said that based on Emano’s order, the province would be under “blue alert” starting at 5 pm today until 8 am on Monday.

Dy said all disaster risk reduction management officials and personnel in the province’s component cities and towns have been informed about the security plan based on the instructions of the Office of Civil Defense in Region 10.