Camp Alagar steps up Normin security measures

By LITO RULONA,
NITZ ARANCON
and JOEY NACALABAN
Correspondents . 

CAMP Alagar placed the police in Cagayan de Oro and the rest of northern Mindanao under a full-alert status following the twin bomb explosions in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday.

Police regional director Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb said authorities would step up security measures to avoid similar attacks from being carried in northern Mindanao.

Security operations in the region would be conducted 24 hours a day, he said.

“We are doing our best to keep the entire Region 10 safe,” Pacleb said.

Camp Alagar also called on citizens to keep calm and to help by being vigilant while the police works closely with the military to secure the cities and provinces in the region.

Supt. Surki Sereñas, Camp Alagar spokesman, said the police would be using highly trained bomb-sniffing dogs during the inspections.

City police director Senior Supt. Nelson Aganon ordered all police station commanders and special units under the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office to beef up security measures.

Aganon said the police here would conduct random inspections with the aim of preventing attacks similar to what happened in Jolo. The measures, he said, would include checking bags for weapons and stricter checkpoints.

He said Cocpo would be keeping an eye on churches and establishments where people frequent like malls and markets, and closely coordinate with security service providers.

Aganon said citizens need not be alarmed, explaining that these would be routinary security measures.

Camp Alagar advised the public to provide the police with useful information about suspicious activities and bags or boxes left behind. (Cocpo hotlines: 09364017888/09177713663 or 8812081; or check “Cocpo Pcru” on Facebook where all hotlines of police stations can be found)

The Army’s 4th Infantry Division said it would also go strict on travelers and would check their personal belongings at Army checkpoints.

Camp Evangelista spokesperson Lt. Terry Enjente-Casancio said the military could only hope that there would be no spillover of violence from Jolo to northern Mindanao.

“We have a joint campaign plan with the PNP. Responsibilidad nato kini tanan to be extra-vigilant,” she said.

Casancio said military checkpoints have been set up from western to eastern parts of the region, and mobile patrols have been ordered.

In Davao, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command has raised its security to a heightened alert level.

“While we have to heighten our alert level, particularly in securing all places of worships, place of convergence and public places, be informed however, that we have not received any hard information that any of our areas is directly under threat,” Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, speaking for Eastmincom, said in a statement.

Balagtey said they are closely monitoring any lawless armed group that would threaten the peace in Davao City or elsewhere in their area of responsibility.

“We are assuring everyone that the Eastern Mindanao Command is closely monitoring and coordinating with our counterparts in Western Mindanao and other law enforcement agencies like the PNP and Nica for us to have a better situational analysis. Further our security mechanism is in place to ensure the safety of everyone,” Balagtey said.

He also condemned the twin explosions that hit the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday morning.

“We are one with the peace- loving Filipino people in condemning the bombing of the Jolo cathedral,” Balagtey said.

He appealed to the public “to be more vigilant and cooperative with the authorities in reporting any security related concerns.”

He also urged everyone “to remain calm and avoid spreading unvalidated information that may cause panic in our respective communities as this will not help in our security instead of contributing to the terrorist victory.”

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the Western Mindanao Command condemned the “barbaric act of terrorists who indiscriminately attack the innocent civilians in Sulu.”

“We commiserate with the bereaved families of the killed victims. Rest assured that we will provide all necessary assistance to the wounded victims and the kin of the departed,” he added. (with reports from Mart Sambalud of Mindanews)