FOLLOWING the beheading of school principal Gabriel Canizares by Abu Sayyaf members, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan told the teachers in the province not to be wary of their security.

In a meeting held Wednesday at the Sulu Capitol, Tan assured teachers from the 1st district of Sulu that security will be provided to teachers to and from their places of station.

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Tan informed the teachers that the Philippine National Police (PNP) under Senior Superintendent Amado Pinto Mendoza has given the assurance that strategies are in place so the safety of teachers are not undermined.

Teachers from the first district led by their officer-in-charge, Division Superintendent Eufremio Lacanaria, sought the intervention of Governor Tan in light of what happened to Canizares.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded Canizares last October 19. His head was found in Jolo town last Monday.

Since the beheading, school officials in the province have suspended classes as a show of sympathy to Canizares.

“I understand and we have always shown concern to the plight of the teachers, this incident is very unfortunate, but we must not sacrifice the interests of our students. We have come up with strategies to secure the safety of our teachers, and we must localize this” said Tan.

Mendoza said the PNP is now placing secret marshals to protect teachers from lawless elements.

Also, police visibility will be increased from the respective police municipal force augmented by the recently inducted Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team.

Mendoza added that teachers will have security from the vicinity of their respective schools. “The PNP will not allow the people of Sulu to live in fear.”

Governor Tan said judges and prosecutors are now present in Sulu to add to the legal component in going after these lawless elements.

Personnel of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are also stationed in Sulu to augment the investigative arm against these criminal elements.

For her part, Superintendent Lacanaria thanked Governor Tan for his concern to their situation and promised to call a meeting to work out the resumption of classes on Monday and the holding of emergency classes if the situation returns to normal. (VR/Sunnex)