THE Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army in Negros Island Region (NIR) are on full alert status following the explosion in Davao City that killed 14 people and injured 67 others on Friday.
Hours after the incident, President Rodrigo Duterte declared state of lawlessness, which would allow him to call out the military to suppress lawless violence.
Under the full alert status, all leaves of personnel in various law enforcement agencies are cancelled and that they are all required to report to their stations and be ready for deployment.
Authorities have intensified their checkpoint operations and presence in places of convergence like malls, churches, terminals, airports, seaports and other crowded places.
Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, director of Police Regional Office-NIR, said they are intensifying their security measures through the implementation of checkpoint operations in major areas across the island.
Gumban said he directed city and provincial directors as well as station commanders to boost their anti-criminality drive and intelligence monitoring in their respective areas, and to strengthen their police visibility patrol operations.
The police are also closely monitoring visitors, and contrabands or packages coming in and out of the localities.
“Any suspicious persons or objects must be reported immediately to the authorities,” Gumban added.
General Harold Cabreros, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz, said in a statement that the troops are ready to undertake any task from the higher headquarters.
Expect the presence of military personnel deployed in public places, he added.
Cabreros assured the public there is nothing to worry about because they will still act within the bounds of the law, adding that the declaration of the state of lawlessness is different from martial law.
He pointed out that “the President himself said there's no such thing as martial law and we will abide with that.”
“We will instead tighten and maximize security within the area through increased security patrols in the known entry and exit points of the islands, vital installations, public places and occasional conduct of checkpoints with the joint effort with PNP counterparts to ensure safety of the people," the Army official said.
"In this time of crisis, our primordial concern is the security and protection of the people," he added.
Cabreros urged the Negrenses to be “be more vigilant and alert to help the security forces thwart and deny the occurrence of similar terrorist attacks.”
Moreover, he encouraged the public “to cooperate and be patient” during checkpoint operations, saying that security is not only the sole responsibility of the military and the police force but a concern of everyone.
The Bureau of Fire Protection-NIR is also placed on full alert status, and the deployment of its personnel is maximized to keep the stations ready for any eventualities.
<>Security up in airport, seaports
Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno, head of Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod, and Himelie Fernandez, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod-Silay Airport, said they are also on full alert status following the Davao blast.
Vingno said passenger assistance centers are set up in seaports.
All Coastguard personnel are required to wear battle dress attire and allowed to carry long firearms, he added.
Moreover, Vingno said K9 units are also deployed in various seaports in the province, including Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. in Bacolod City as well as those in Bago City, Escalante City and San Carlos City.
Vingno said they are also in close coordination with the police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Fernandez said the airport has instructed police personnel to beef up the security.