Maritime security strengthened in Davao Region

AUTHORITIES strengthened security monitoring on sea vessels sailing within the Davao Gulf that could be used as entry points by terrorists to prevent possible spillovers of the Marawi clash.

Eastern Mindanao Command (Easmincom) deputy commander and martial law spokesperson Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay said that the Joint Task Force (JTF) Haribon is stepping up profiling and registration of boats operating within the Davao Gulf to easily determine those vessels that are not from here.

Bantay Dagat was also revived and even intensified for maritime security to regulate the entrance of evacuees and ensure that no terrorist will enter the city.

"Apprehensions will be carried out to illegal and unregistered bancas along the Davao Gulf and other areas where illegal bancas are being monitored," he said.

Likewise, Gapay said since the declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao, several activities and aggressive security operations have been undertaken by the military to secure its areas of responsibilities which led to the arrest of eight members and supporters of the Maute Terror Group who are behind the Marawi crisis.

The task force is also focused on information dissemination on martial law to level up the awareness of the public on the provisions of being under martial law. Some 200 information drives were conducted in their area of responsibility.

They are also involved in Stakeholders Engagement and Humanitarian Assistance. Two missions were sent to assist the displaced families in Marawi City.

A total of 9,480 checkpoint operations were already conducted in the whole area of EMC, while a total of 106 security operations to secure vital installations and critical infrastructures were executed to shield them from sabotage. The EMC also established 3,628 informant networks to strengthen the monitoring against terrorism, Gapay said. (JCR)