BE vigilant but don’t panic. Avoid sharing unverified texts or social media posts that will only frighten others, the police appealed three days after an explosion in a night market in Davao City.
Among those who made these appeals were Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, head of the Central Visayas police; Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak; and Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, acting chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC).
“We’re appealing to the public. If you are not certain about the text that you received, don’t pass it on kay makatampo ta sa murag confusion sa mga tawo (because you’ll only add to the people’s confusion),” said Chatto, at the RPOC meeting in the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 headquarters in Cebu City yesterday.
One such post that has circulated via text messages and a viral post on Facebook mentions a supposed plot to bomb malls in Cebu City.
That post has no basis, said Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria. “However, patuloy po tayong nagmamatyag at alerto po yung police natin dito po sa Cebu City (We’ll continue watching over the people and our police in Cebu City have been alerted),” Doria said.
The authorities assured that their intelligence reports do not indicate the presence of extremists in Cebu.
“We are urging the public to help the City and the police in getting information. Let’s not panic,” Tumulak said in a separate interview. Apart from his council duties, the councilor serves as the deputy mayor for police matters.
Checkpoint
He joined a military checkpoint yesterday morning at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
He also met with officials from the Visayan Electric Company, Metropolitan Cebu Water District and the Cebu City Chamber of Commerce, and urged them to monitor operations caught on their closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Tumulak said he also wants owners of gasoline stations, public utility vehicles, taxis and for-hire motorcycle (habal-habal) drivers to help keep an eye on their surroundings.
Street vendors, public market workers, and school and mall personnel were also encouraged to immediately report anything suspicious to the authorities.
Doria, for his part, assured that the police will conduct more checkpoints at random times and locations.
All 11 police station commanders were also instructed to check every CCTV camera in their areas of responsibility to find out if these still work.
Meanwhile, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines based in Balamban are already being deployed all throughout Cebu Province.
Alert
The Bravo Company of the 47th Infantry Battalion received orders directing them to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units.
“We are now on red alert. We were asked to support the PNP, visit ports, conduct visibility patrols and checkpoints. Backup is also ready in case we need additional troops,” said First Lt. Dexter Raner, the company commander.
He, however, clarified that the military will only exercise its arresting powers in cases of grave unrest, because the police will be present in all their patrols.
The head of the military’s Central Command (Centcom), Major Gen. Raul del Rosario, said that more soldiers will be visible in the streets in the coming days, after President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a state of lawless violence last Saturday.
The armed forces were tasked to help the police secure vital establishments and crowded places like bus terminals, airports, seaports and parks.
Around 10 a.m. yesterday, Taliño, del Rosario and Tumulak met with barangay captains, police officials, and Muslim community in the barangay hall of San Nicolas Proper.
Leads
One of the officials in the meeting, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) 7 Director Malo Manonggiring, condemned the bombing in Davao City and emphasized that their religion is one of peace.
“If you see someone who is suspicious-looking, you yourself should report to us,” Taliño appealed in the meeting.
The region’s top police official is one of those who’ve received the text message about a supposed plot to attack a place in Cebu.
“May na-receive ako na text, actually, galing Maynila, but no cause for alarm. Kaya ang sinasabi natin kalmado lang tayo at maging vigilant (I received that text from Manila, but there is no cause for alarm. That’s why we’ve been saying, please keep calm but be vigilant),” he told reporters yesterday.
As part of his response, Councilor Tumulak appealed to people to stay calm, but also cooperate in efforts to keep Cebu safe.
“Let’s not leave it all to some people. It’s important for all of us to work together, look after (one another) and help uphold the law,” he said.
