Following reports of terrorist presence malls, parishes security officers meet with PNP

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office met with security officers of the different malls and parishes in the city following reports on the alleged presence of terrorists in Cebu.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, who heads CCPO’s City Intelligence Branch, said prior to the meeting, the management of the different malls in the city and even the pastoral security group inquired about the veracity of the report that may alarm the public and affect the region’s tourism industry.

“Better ang reaction ron sa public about the circulation of text messages. Instead of panicking, they inquired from us, which is a very good move,” Santander expressed.

This week, police officials in Cebu received a text message alleging the presence of 15 members of Abu Sayyaf Group from Tawi-tawi in Mindanao and are said to conduct test missions in the cities of Cebu, Dipolog and Dumaguete.

A bomb scare was reported a few days later at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which turned out to be a miscommunication between an airline staff and a passenger, who was actually inquiring about a text message on a bomb threat.

Santander said both reports remain unconfirmed and that the public has nothing to panic about.

During the meeting, the CIB chief also shared strategies with the 35 security officers on how to better secure their respective establishments and area.

At the mall, guards should frisk every shopper before allowing them to enter the establishment.

Guards, he further recommended, should religiously use reflect mirrors in checking vehicles and further check its compartments and not just for compliance.

“Though basin unya moingon ang mga tawo na hasol or samok, ipasabot lang nato nila na gibuhat na para ra sab sa ilang seguridad,” said Santander.

He said police and guards alike should not be complacent.

Even with the unconfirmed reports, police in Central Visayas particularly in Cebu are on heightened alert as ordered by Police Regional Office 7 Director Danilo Constantino.

Additional policemen were deployed in areas of convergence for police visibility.  Target-hardening measures and system of intelligence monitoring are intensified.

“We cannot afford na mag-relax-relax lang,” Constantino had said.

He called on the public to help authorities in keeping the community safe by directly reporting to them any suspicious individuals or activities. — (FREEMAN)