DAVAO del Norte Police Provincial Office (DdNPPO) said that people in the province should not panic as the series of killings in Tagum City are isolated.
“Dili kinahanglan mag-panic atong mga katawhan tungod kay kini isolated man og naka-focus na pud atong mga imbestigador sa maong kaso (There is no need for panic because these cases are isolated and investigation is ongoing),” PSMS Reynante Balacuit, spokesperson of DdNPPO, said during his interview with 97.9 XFM Davao on April 27, 2023.
“Dunay mga lakang nga gipangbuhat sa tibook Davao del Norte, dili lang sa Tagum City aron malikayan ang susamang insidente (We are taking actions to ensure the safety of our people in the entire Davao del Norte, not only in Tagum City),” he added.
However, Balacuit said people in Davao del Norte should stay vigilant.
“Dapat igmat gihapon matag-usa kanato, especially nabantanyan nato nga pipila na pud ka mga maldito namalik na pud sa atong mga komunidad (Each of us should be vigilant especially that there are several violators in the community),” he said.
“Magpakabana kita kanunay kay ang kahapsay ug kalinaw dili lang man kini trabaho sa atong mga kapulisan, although kami ang gitahasan niini sa gobyerno, apan concern nato ning tanan (We need to be alert because in ensuring the peace and order in our province, every has their part in it),” he said.
He said that people also need to do their part as active citizens of society by reporting any suspicious activities or people in the community.
Meanwhile, DdNPPO said that they already have a person of interest following the murder case of the nine-year-old child and the 18-year-old female in Tagum City in April 2023.
Balacuit said that these two incidents are not related.
“According to the initial investigation sa atong kapulisan sa Tagum City Police although nahimo siya og series apan wala siya’y relasyon (Based on the initial investigation of Tagum City Police, these two murder cases are not related),” he said. KSD