LESS than a week before the annual observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, local law enforcement agencies and security forces are on high alert.
The Task Force Davao (TFD) said yesterday that as early as October 30, TF Davao personnel will be deployed in 19 major cemeteries and memorial parks in downtown Davao City with increased visibility patrols in terminals, airports, seaports, and other places of convergence.
“Considering the huge influx of people that will observe the All Souls’ and All Saints’ Days, the unit will be intensifying its checkpoints, additional personnel will be deployed in the three main entry points of Davao City to augment the forces already manning the 24/7 checkpoints,” TFD said in a statement.
TFD assured the passengers passing these checkpoints that they will be experiencing a well-ventilated and more convenient inspection area with the bigger, cooler, and completed semi-permanent structures for X-ray baggage machine and metal detectors that were installed in different fixed checkpoints in Lasang, Toril, and Calinan.
Bomb-sniffing dogs and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams will be deployed in the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) to ensure the security of passengers.
“Security coordination meetings were conducted for cemeteries and parks management, encouraging them not to put non-transparent garbage bins inside the vicinity which are not secured and as much as possible allow the cleaning of tombs to be completed before November 1 since bladed weapons/implements and other sharp objects to be used for cleaning purposes will be confiscated starting All Saints’ Day,” TFD added.
Task Force Davao will support the security plan of the DCPO in securing the cemeteries and parks in Davao City.
The unit together with the other members of the security cluster decided to implement the concept of the maximum-security zone to these areas.
TFD will also propagate their advocacy on the culture of security during the Undas. They are also asking the public's cooperation to the security measures set by the authorities but voluntarily submitting themselves during an inspection.
For the security in Davao’s waters, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Davao had implemented inspection of assets and personnel at Santa Ana Pier in preparation for Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Undas 2019.
Commodore Roy A Echeverria, Commander of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao conducted rounds after the inspection to different passenger ports and terminals in Davao City to ensure that all PCG personnel is ready for the expected influx of passenger because of the semestral break and upcoming Undas.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO 11) Regional Director Police Brigadier General Filmore B. Escobal said that a total of 1,945 policemen will be deployed in private and public cemeteries, public thoroughfares, and other vital installations in Davao Region to give security and assistance to the public.
He has also directed all Station Commanders to intensify their security operations and public safety plans during observance as well as coordinate with their local government units and other law enforcement agencies in the implementation of their respective security measures.
"So, I am reminding the public to be vigilant so as not to give lawless elements the opportunity to carry out their dastardly activities and I am asking for your full cooperation in the implementation of our safety measures," Escobal said.
PRO 11 said they will set up Police Assistance Centers in terminals, malls, beach resorts for speedy response of concerns/complaints.