TOP officials of Negros Occidental called on Negrenses to stay vigilant amid the terror threat following the explosion in Davao City on Friday, which killed 14 people and injured 70 others.
The officials were reacting to reports online that Bacolod City will be targeted next by a terror group.
On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the proclamation of a state of national emergency before he left for a three-day state visit to Laos.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the President was prompted to sign the proclamation, following the senseless acts done in the country, including the recent bombing at a night market in Davao City.
“Some instances, such as the escape of inmates, the beheading [of hostages by the Abu Sayyaf bandits], and eventually, the incident in Davao, are the bases of [the proclamation of state of lawless violence]," Medialdea said.
He stressed that the proclamation was not close to declaring Martial Law, saying it was merely focused on fighting terrorism.
He added that there was no curfew being imposed in the proclamation.
Medialdea said there is no timeline as for the implementation of the state of national emergency proclamation.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. told Negrenses: “We must be vigilant. Every citizen must be careful. We must be aware of our surroundings. We have to be very observant and not complacent.”
Still, he urged the public not to panic and to report any unusual activity.
“There’s citizen arrest. Any citizen can arrest anybody who’s acting suspicious and is carrying firearms. My suggestion is that we should train more dogs because they have the ability (to detect bombs),” Marañon said.
The governor directed the police and the army to “not only double-time, but triple-time” in doing their jobs.
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, for his part, said: “We hope (Bacolod will) not (be targeted). We hope and pray that we will be safe or will be shielded from this incident (like) in Davao, not only in Negros Occidental, but the whole country.”
“This is something, together as a nation, we hope we would be able to solve – the problem of Abu Sayyaf,” he added.
More visibility
For his part, Interior Undersecretary on Public Safety Jesus Hinlo Jr. ordered the police to conduct more police visibility and checkpoints operations to preempt any terrorist violence, as he confirmed intelligence reports that major cities may be the next target.
He also advised the public to immediately report abusive policemen to authorities using the government hotline 8888.
The declaration of the state of lawless violence is for the military to assist the police in maintaining peace and order in the country against criminalities, Hinlo pointed out.
He said that the right to assembly and the right to expression will still be observed, however, the President still has the power to stop any rally without the required permit.
‘No basis’
Senior Superintendent Flynn Dongbo, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office, said there is no basis that Bacolod will be the next target.
But added the public should remain alert and vigilant.
He said the intelligence community is validating the reports that the city may be targeted next.
Bacolod police are on full alert status and will continue to monitor and secure public places.