THE Joint Task Force (JTF) Covid Shield has ordered police commanders to maximize the implementation of existing quarantine protocols to prevent terror attacks.
Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, issued the directive after the twin explosions that killed 15 people in Jolo, Sulu.
Eleazar urged the policemen to be more vigilant during the conduct of security protocols at the checkpoints and places of convergence, particularly in Metro Manila and highly urbanized cities (HUCs).
“Since March 17, we have set up and further improved the security measures to enforce the quarantine rules. These measures could be maximized by our local commanders to protect their respective areas of responsibilities (AORs) against any terror threats,” Eleazar said.
“Aside from the QCPs, other existing measures that could be capitalized are the intensified police visibility especially in business districts and places of convergence and the requirement for a travel authority before any person could cross the borders of provinces and regions,” he added.
He said the working relationship between the police and the local security officers which was strengthened amid the Covid-19 pandemic response may also serve as preventive measure against possible attacks in the communities.
Eleazar said barangay security forces have become more alert especially against strangers or new faces entering their areas of responsibilities.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas said he also alerted his men.
He said they will conduct regular inspections in crowded areas such as train stations, malls, grocery stores, transport terminals, places of worship and other places of convergence.
“The strategy remains. Ang paigting lang natin ay ‘yung intelligence monitoring natin. Of course we are also coordinating with our counterparts in PRO BAR (Bangsamoro Police Regional Office) lalo na sa Jolo area at sa Region 9 and lets go back to our dialogue to our Muslim brothers and sisters na andito sa NCR so that they can help us prevent the same incident,” said Sinas. (SunStar Philippines)