By NITZ ARANCON and LITO RULONA Correspondents POLICE officers and soldiers manning checkpoints can insist on thoroughly inspecting vehicles suspected of being used in moving firearms and explosives, a Camp Alagar official said yesterday. Supt. Surki Sereñas, Camp Alagar spokesman, said this would only happen if authorities have intelligence information about certain vehicles. “Kon dunay among madawat    nga intelligence information nga kana nga sakyanan nagdala sa  explosive o armas, paglabay ana sa checkpoints amo gyud nang pogson   pag-abli bisan pag dili mosugot ang nagsakay niini,” said Sereñas even as he pointed out that the government has strengtened its intelligence gathering work since President Duterte declared a “state of lawless violence” following the deadly bombing in Davao last week. Before leaving for Laos early this week, Duterte declared a state of emergency. The checkpoints would be manned by police officers and soldiers. In Misamis Oriental alone, some 300 soldiers were fielded to help the police manning checkpoints in an effort to thwart threats of terrorism, said Col. Jessie Alvarez, 403rd Brigade commander, during the launch of the Joint AFP-PNP Action Center (Japac) and the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office website on Wednesday here. “Army units are now in several strategic municipalities to augment the PNP forces in fighting criminality, including terrorists and rebels. This effort is aimed at enhancing our full coordination in the fight against terrorism,” Alvarez said. Sereñas said authorities would respect civil liberties, and the right of motorists not to open their trunks in most cases. He said those manning the checkpoints were aware of their limitations, and have been warned against abuses. Unless there is an intelligence information about a specific threat, they cannot just open trunks, and the inspections would be limited to visual search. Police and soldiers would just request motorists to open their side windows to allow visual search. “Visual search lang ang atong himo-on ug dili puwedi nga mogunit ang police sa vehicle,” Sereñas said. Under normal circumstances, he said, authorities would not force anyone to open vehicle compartments. “Kon na-ay dili mosugot nga    atong pa-ablihan ang ilang mga baggage compartment, wala tay    mahimo diha pero kon wala kay    gitago nganong dili  man pod ka    mosugot nga ablihan?” Sereñas asked rhetorically. Alvarez said security forces would need the help of local governments and people in the villages as they gather intelligence information and in their monitoring work. He assured that authorities would respect people’s rights. “Wala kini magpasabot nga deploying more troops in the communities is tantamount to the declaration of martial law. In simple terms, gitawag lang ni President Duterte ang AFP para tabangan ang PNP to stop criminal acts.” Alvarez however said the military were still awaiting specific guidelines. “What is clear to us is, we need to send more troops to urban centers para matabangan ang police because of the threats of terrorism. We were also advised to beef up forces at the checkpoints and to help in the police operations. Walay dapat ika-alarm ang atong mga civilians sa martial law kay igo lamang kami nagtabang,” Alvarez said. He said the military has been coordinating with the capitol, and Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano agreed in principle to allow more checkpoints in the province. Alvarez said authorities were also do something to secure the boundaries of Misamis Oriental, Lanao and Caraga because of the threat of terrorism. He said the military would also assist the police in the campaign against illegal drugs. Senior Supt. Gerardo Rosales, Camp Alagar deputy director for operations, said the newly launched Japac would allow the police and military to share their expertise and information. “This will boost logic in obtaining peace and order in the community,” Rosales said. At the same time, he said, Japac would result in “interactive cooperation” among the police, military and the communities.