The Presidential Security Group, the Crowd Dispersal Management (CDM) teams, VIP drivers and motorcycle escorts all left Cebu for their mother units yesterday morning.
After the success of Oplan Aegis, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also shifting its attention to security for this Sunday’s Sinulog street parade.
There isn’t any cause for alarm, but NBI Director Medardo de Lemos said heightened readiness is normal whenever there are activities that have people converge in large numbers.
Oplan Aegis, named after the mythical shield of Zeus, was the NBI’s contribution to the security preparations for the recently concluded Asean Summit.
Of the 200 Toyota Altis police cars assigned to the police, only 13 will remain at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.
Cebu will also be left with seven motorcycles, 450 handheld radios and 200 CDM uniforms, including the special anti-riot gear, and 200 new firearms for the recruits.
There were 1,402 field trainees from different regions sent to Cebu for the summit. However, only the 152 trainees from Western Mindanao will remain in Cebu for the 26th Sinulog Festival.
Although some field trainees expressed their preference to stay, they will have to formally request for it, so the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 can forward this to their regional offices.
Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr., PRO 7 director, said that with the departure of most of the augmentation force, they have now “switched to Sinulog mode.”
There will be 2,000 police operatives working to secure the festivities this week.
PNP Director General Oscar Calderon said the vehicles that were used for the summit were purchased for distribution to all the regional offices.
As for the 41 surveillance cameras, Alarcio said they cannot claim ownership over them, as the acquisition process has not been finalized yet.
However, he said they will ask the contractor if they can still use the cameras for the Sinulog Festival.
As for the policemen who were injured or suffered illnesses during the summit, Alarcio assured they will be taken care of.
At the NBI, over 50 agents, special investigators, forensic experts and laboratory technicians who came from their head office in Manila will also be on their way back now that the summit is over.
While in Cebu for the gathering of Asean leaders, the agents were organized into intelligence, investigation and quick response teams and were deployed in key areas. (With KNR)
