IN LIGHT of the recent suicide bombing attacks outside Davao City, the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) is lobbying for the prohibition of wearing of vest in public places in the city.
Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta, committee on peace and public safety chairperson, said in her privilege speech during the 19th City Council regular session on Tuesday, January 5, that CPOC recommended for the
prohibition of wearing of vests, particularly hydration and weighted running vest, in convergence areas such as markets, churches, playgrounds, and terminals.
Acosta said the proposed ordinance, which will be called the "No Vest Policy," will also be implemented in areas in the city declared as "maximum security zone."
The "maximum security zone" is an area where access is controlled through an entry point and limited to authorized, appropriately screened personnel and authorized and properly escorted visitors, and monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by security forces.
Currently, the San Pedro Square and the Roxas Night Market are the areas under the "maximum security zone."
The proposed ordinance is on top of the "No Jacket Policy" and "No Backpack Policy" for guests attending big events.
During the CPOC meeting on December 29, 2020, Acosta said the Task Force Davao reported three suicide bombing incidents outside the city, as of press time.
She said this had resulted in the death and injury of government forces and civilians.
"In response to this, the Task Force Davao proposed to adapt the 'No Jacket Policy' as an additional security measure to thwart possible suicide attack by terrorist wearing suicide vest inside their jackets," Acosta said.
"Upon analysis on similar cases around the world, our peacekeeping forces observed that in relation to the 'No Jacket Policy', there are individuals wearing hydration or weighted vest for running, walking general fitness or for athlete or professional level of training to increase the intensity of exercise," Acosta added.
The councilor said terrorists can use the hydration vest as a suicide vest filled with explosives.
The proposed ordinance, which aims to prevent possible panic to the public "due to presence of persons wearing vests that may appear as terrorists," was passed on first reading.