THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is installing baggage counters along with the security inspections in Catholic and other Christian churches in the city as part of the security adjustments following the recent bombings in Southern Mindanao.
Cocpo director Senior Superintendent Nelson Aganon on Thursday said a baggage counter is already established at the security inspection area in St. Augustine Cathedral.
He said more baggage counters will be put in place in other big churches in the city on the weekend. He said the police have already coordinated with the parish priests.
"Before pa naman nong pronouncement ng martial law na ipinagbabawal ang pagdadala ng back packs, packages mga karton, nag coordinate na tayo sa mga simbahan na i-announce after mass na ipinagbabawal ang pagdadala ng baggages at back packs sa loob ng simbahan and other religious gathering," Aganon said.
Aganon said back packs and other packages of churchgoers will be subjected for inspections and should be left at the baggage counter.
He said they will be given corresponding numbers so they can get their belongings back after the mass.
"Yung mga hindi nakarining ng announcement na bawal at may dalang mga bags are subject sa inspection then afterwards they need to leave it sa i-establish na baggage counter para maiwasan na magkaroon ng mga unwanted boxes or packages sa loob ng simbahan," Aganon said.
Aganon said mere checking of back packs and packages is not enough.
"Sa amin di enough yun. We need to go beyond that kasi di kami kampante and satisfied sa ganun. Kailangan itaas ang level ng security," he added.
The city police director said policemen will also clear the churches of unattended packages after the mass.
Aganon said he will personally check if this new security adjustments are implemented properly and appropriately.
He said this adjustment is the result of validation after the recent deadly blasts in Jolo.
"Result ito ng validation sa bombing sa Jolo na may ganong pattern, may indicator na we should learn from that and adjust security measures in churches," Aganon said.
The Cocpo chief also asked everyone who brings back packs to cooperate with the policemen who will conduct random inspections on the streets
Aganon said similar security adjustment will be implemented in transport terminals in the city.
"Pakiusap lang namin na mag-cooperate at sumunod na wag na magdala ng back packs kasi di naman kailangan ng back packs while nagdadasal so iwan na lang nila sa counter or better wag nang magdala," Aganon said.
"We are not paranoid but we are not relaxing ang imporante di magkaroon ng opportunity ang kalaban na masingitan tayo. Sana suportahan ito kasi para sa ating lahat ito," he added.