Davao City on High Alert

DAVAO CITY, Philippines
—  A top official of the Public Safety and Command Center confirmed the alert level of Davao City and other cities in the country remains high due to the threat coming from the communist rebels and the terror groups.

Speaking in the AFP-PNP Press Corps briefing at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Retired Major General Benito De Leon, chief of the PSCC referred to the reports tackled in the recent Regional Peace and Order Council meeting where the issues pertaining the peace and order were tackled.

Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Dabaw | Photo: Ree Amante/Southern DC Blog

He said that just like a virus, terror threat is everywhere and when the body lowers its defense mechanism, it can be easily afflicted by illness and consequently, the society can be infected by it.

“I believe that the security arrangements in the city brought about by the coordination between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Task Force Davao and three Army Battalions and the Philippine National Police deployed in Davao City under the Davao City Police Office, are able to provide very good security preparation,” De Leon said.

He cited threats coming from like the ISIS, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, Abu Sayyaf Group, criminal groups and the front line organizations of the communist rebels.

He stressed that the city also has force multipliers like the Civil Security Units funded by the city government providing security for all schools and other government facilities and the police auxiliaries recruited by the city augmented in the DCPO and the City Transport and Traffic Management Office.

De Leon said all security forces are collaborating and coordinating in all security efforts.

He said the security in the city is very tight which is being copied by other places.

“Even then we need the support and cooperation of the local populace because of the city’s wide expanse and is very porous. Our mayor calls for all people to support the security arrangement,” De Leon said.

Senior Superintendent Nolasco Bathan, deputy director for administration of the Police Regional Office XI called for vigilance among the citizenry.

He said the threats from terror groups will not thrive once the residents and the security forces are united against them.


source: Philippine Information Agency X1 (PIA-X1)