AN OFFICIAL of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao said the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has been directed to be extra vigilant in guarding against bomb threats and possible terror attacks.
Superintendent Lemuel Gonda, PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson, was apprehensive after President Rodrigo Duterte specifically mentioned Cagayan de Oro City as direct target of "bombing and terrorist attack" after the deaths of terrorist leaders in Marawi City.
Gonda said the PRO-Northern Mindanao alerted not just Cocpo but all other city and provincial police offices since Sunday, October 22.
Gonda insists that whether the terror threat is true or not, Duterte's words already serve as an order.
"Gi-mention man sa president sa iyang engagement speech sa Visayas. Gi-alarm dayon nato ang Cocpo kay gikan man mismo sa baba sa presidente unya his words is an order," Gonda said.
"Dili nato i-discount ni kay tinuod o dili mao man giingon sa President. Naa sauna mga threats pero lahi lang karon kay specific," Gonda said.
Gonda explained that the PRO-Northern Mindanao is taking the president's words seriously while reminding the public not to panic as the police remains on top of every situation.
The PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesman said the business sector and the public must be reminded of the awareness and information dissemination activities conducted by the police since the start of martial law.
Gonda said Cocpo has been ordered to intensify the conduct of security measures such as the implementation of checkpoints, intelligence gathering, patrolling and coordination with the local government units, force multipliers and other law enforcement agencies.
Gonda said the Camp Alagar's order is not just for Cocpo but for the entire region to thwart possible diversionary tactics of terrorists and lawless elements.
"Ang Cocpo gipa-coordinate pa nato sa LGU ang business sector para sa awareness nga kung naay mamatikdan i-report dayon sa kapolisan," Gonda
said.
PRO-Northern Mindanao is set to deploy more men from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and to ensure police trainees visibility in the city streets.
"Ang atong hangyo sa katawhan sa CDO nga naa gyud pakabana kay crime prevention is everybody's concern. Nag start naman ta coordinate sa business sector and public schools ato na lang ni iparemind," Gonda
said.