CAGAYAN de Oro City policemen have been ordered not to let their guard down as security preparations are raised to level 5 for the observance of the holy week, a city police official said Tuesday, March 20.
Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said the security threat in the city remains at level 3, which means terror attacks are highly possible.
Hortillosa said the level 5 maximum security preparation is equivalent to threat level 5, which is already critical.
He said city police director Senior Superintendent Robert Roy Bahian ordered his men to put security plans in place for the religious activity.
"Wala pa gi-lower ang threat level 3 pero ang atong security preparation is level 5 buot pasabot prepared ta for level 5 nga threat ug sa possibility nga naa na gyud threat groups sa ato (Threat level is still 3 but our preparation is level 5, it means we are preparing for threat level 5)," Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa said the city police office is consistently receiving unverified information about terror activities, but he said the validation so far yielded negative.
He said these information will prompt the authorities to validate and prepare to ensure “safety and security” in the city.
Aside from terror threats, authorities are also keeping an eye of other organized criminal groups that may sow fear to the public.
"Apil sa atong assumption kaning mga criminal groups nga mosakay sa panahon, harassment from the NPA, ug labaw sa tanan gipangandaman nato ang bomb threat (Including in our assumptions are these criminal groups that may take advantage, NPA harassments and most especially bomb threats),"Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa said the strengthened security measures have already been implemented continuously to thwart violence and criminality.
The Cocpo spokesman explained that they have yet to ask augmentation from the Police Regional Office, saying security is still manageable.
He said they would ask the cooperation of the auxiliary force from the different village security officers.
"Kaya pa nato sa Cocpo uban sa atong mga barangay tanod ug naa pud tay mga FTP. Pero normally ang Camp Alagar mag-deploy na sila during sa holy week kay taas man ang need sa security (We can still manage the security and we have partners from the barangays and the field training police. But, normally Camp Alagar will deploy men during the holy week)," Hortillosa said.
The police officer said the city director instructed all police stations and units to coordinate with each other in terms of sharing reports and information.
Police on the ground are also ordered to continue the campaign and information dissemination against terrorism and all forms of criminality.
Hortillosa said the “Oplan Holy Week” will start on Thursday, March 29, until Easter Sunday, April 1.