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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Cebu reviews security plans
CEBU CITY -- The blasts that shook three cities on Valentine's Day stirred Cebuano leaders into action as well.
Extra vigilance and security were ordered Tuesday in the Mactan airport and other public facilities in Metro Cebu, following Monday night's bombings in the cities of Makati, General Santos and Davao.
"The assumption is that Cebu will always be a target," Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Eduardo Gador said.
Gador ordered all police units to increase patrol activities in vital installations in Regions 6, 7 and 8. These include seaports, airports, terminals, power generating units and malls.
Soldiers tightened security measures too. Lieutenant General Emmanuel Teodosio, commanding general of Central Command (Centcom), declared the entire Visayas under red alert at 8 p.m. Monday after learning of the attacks.
Centcom spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson Oman-dam said Cebu was made a priority, being one of the main hubs of transportation in the country.
Be watchful
Hadji Nashier Ismael, founding chairman of the Panaghugpong sa Banwang Bisaya ug Mindanao sa Kauswagan ug Kailinaw, told reporters Tuesday that it was highly possible for terrorists to pull an attack on Cebu or anywhere in Central Visayas.
"It must not be taken for granted. I suggest that all leaders in Metro Cebu, Muslim and non-Muslim, come up with precautionary measures. Dili ko gusto nga ang Cebu maapil. Hopefully ang atong differences sa pulitika, wala lang, usa na," said Ismael, who visited the PRO 7 Tuesday morning.
At the Capitol, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, being the head of the Regional Peace and Order Council, called on everyone to be extra vigilant.
"Report immediately any unusual activities and unusual movements of persons. We must all join hands to protect our Province of Cebu and protect the peace and order that we have so far maintained in this great province of ours," Garcia said.
The governor will also be pushing for the creation of an elite force or rapid reaction team of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
Superintendent Lito Landingin of the CPPO said that even before the PRO 7 issued orders to raise the alert status, Senior Superintendent Maximo Calimlim already sent radio messages to the stations.
Public spots
For their part, Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin and Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch Chief Pablo Labra II said they have doubled security and intelligence measures, including securing vital installations, malls, churches and other areas where people converge.
Gayotin, Labra and all the station commanders and chiefs of the special units met Tuesday morning with Vice Mayor Michael Rama, chairman of the Police Coordinating Advisory Council, and discussed measures to prevent attacks similar to those that hit General Santos, Davao and Makati last Monday.
The Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for the bombings that killed at least 12 people and wounded about 130.
There are now two vehicle checkpoints en route to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Senior Superintendent Arturo Evangelista, director of the Philippine Center for Aviation Security in Mactan, also said that following the attacks, more trained dogs will be fielded in all areas of the airport.
Need help
When asked about the most problematic concerns in his area, in terms of security, he singled out the dilapidated X-ray machines and the houses clustered near the west end of the runway.
Superintendent Alexander Aba-dinas, officer-in-charge of the Mandaue City Police Office, said that even before Monday's bombings, the police have been guarding vital installations in Mandaue.
These include the two bridges linking Mactan Island to mainland Cebu, the Petron depot in Barangay Looc and the North Bus Terminal in Barangay Subangdaku.
Police and military officials are also asking the public to report suspicious-looking persons to the nearest police or military stations.
Deputy Regional Police Director for Operations Ronald Roderos said even the smallest detail should be reported because these could be links to some incidents.
Since the alert status has been raised, policemen have to cancel their leaves unless there are emergencies. (MEA/MBG/JST/OCP/AAG)
(February 16, 2005 issue)
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