THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region bared that they are on full alert status following the bombings in Jolo, Sulu.
PRO-Davao Director Brigadier General Filmore Escobal said on Wednesday, August 26, that the entire security sector in the region is on the lookout for possible terrorist-related activities
"We also anticipated a similar incident because of the prevailing information that there are some elements in our adjacent regions which are sympathetic to these groups [Abu Sayyaf]," Escobal said during the One Davao on Covid-19 virtual presser.
However, he said it is "unlikely to happen due to geographical distance.”
He added the region is still not spared from terrorist attacks as there are also communist terrorist groups (CTGs) that are also scattered and might take advantage of the situation.
Public Security and Safety Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay said Davao City is on alert status level 3 per the recommendation of the Davao City Anti-Terror Council.
Task Force Davao Commander Colonel Consolito Yecla, meanwhile, said that while they have not yet received any information of direct threat in the city following the Jolo bombing, tight security measures must be imposed to prevent any untoward incidents from entering the city.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a recent radio interview reminded Dabawenyos to be vigilant as the city is not "immune" from the terroristic activities.
"Kon dili ta magmatngon, kon dili ta maghatag og importance ug dili ta magpakita og care sa atoang syudad ug isig katawo, atong mga kaubang Dabawenyo diri sa Davao City, mahitabo gyud na sa atoa," Duterte-Carpio said.
(If we will not be vigilant and give importance and care to our city, fellow citizens and Dabawenyos, expect that we will also experience the same incident.)
The mayor said Dabawenyos should "be an active partner of the city's Culture of Security campaign," emphasizing the role of the Dabawenyos in anti-terror activities of the city.
As of Monday evening, August 24, 14 people died and 75 were wounded from the two explosions that rocked Jolo, Sulu.