Davao City in full alert

SECURITY forces have placed Davao City on a full alert status in line with its various activities and the expected huge influx of people, spectators, local and foreign delegates to the metropolis.

The full alert status started with the recent visit of President Benigno Aquino III and the Team PNoy candidates for May election and the international conference on meetings, incentives, conventions and events/exhibitions (Mice).

The alert status will be maintained for the coming celebration of the 76th Araw ng Dabaw and Holy Week.

Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), told Sun.Star Davao that aside from the imposition of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) total gun ban, security measures were already in place to ensure the peace and order in Davao City.

"Sa wala pa nagsulod ang bulan na Marso, nakalatag na ang among pagahimuon para sa gaubay-ubay na mga activities sugod karon bulana hantod na jud na sa opening sa klase June puhon. As of first week this month, naka-standby na among mga personahe for deployment on various areas," dela Rosa said.

Some 2,000 personnel from DCPO, Task Force Davao (TFD), City Public Safety Command Center (CPSCC), Traffic Management Center (TMC), Central 911, including the force multipliers or the civilian volunteers, were steadily deployed to monitor the peace and order situation in the city.

Dela Rosa said around 1,000 of their personnel were deployed in various areas to do foot and mobile patrols, random checkpoints, and other integrated patrol systems like the Oplan Sita, Oplan Katok, Oplan Araw ng Dabaw, and Oplan Semana Santa, among others.

He added that aside from the estimated 1,000 personnel, the Davao Police Regional Office is also set to add some 200 personnel before their office.

Dela Rosa reminded the 12 police stations to maintain the full alert status and maximize police visibility as much as possible in all corners in their area of responsibility to avoid untoward incidents.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, TFD executive officer and spokesperson, in a separate interview, said around 300 to 400 of the troops, including those battalion members from the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, would be steadily deployed for the festival until Holy Week.

"In fact, those troops that were recently augmented to us were already performing our duties here, and as we can see most of them were already deployed in the city before the Hudyakaan started. Visible na yan sila not only to address the terrorism but also the possible criminalities," Besana said.

Besana said they will be stricter in the implementation of security measures, including the Comelec gun ban, not only inside but also outside/boundaries of Davao City, to ensure the safety of people.

"Naka-establish na rin yung ating intelligence and our communication with the other government agencies lalo na sa mga kapulisan natin dito as the lead role and our partners in implementing these necessary security measures for the public," Besana said.

Retired Colonel Desiderio Cloribel, TMC head, also said their office has already deployed around 200 traffic enforcers, including the Traffic Eagle Squad to control the crowd and ensure public safety for motorist and commuters in the city especially on the fast approaching events. (Ivy C. Tejano)