Militant group bayan to hold rally: Pres. Duterte in Cebu today

CEBU, Philippines — Security systems are in place for President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Cebu today.

The President will be here to unveil the Malasakit Center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial and Medical Center (VSMMC) and participate in a joint command conference of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

With reports of militant groups trooping the streets, personnel from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) team are on standby to respond to protest rallies.

"Our CDM platoons are well trained and they are also well equipped although naa'y uban reserved. We are prepared for that. Maximum tolerance kung naay mag-rally or mang-harass," said Supt. Reyman Tolentin, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7.

Jaime Paglinawan, chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Central Visayas, has announced that the group will hold a protest rally at 9 a.m. today.

The group will hold their rally in front of the Sto. Rosario Parish in P. Del Rosario Street.

"Amo dalhon ang pagsupak namo sa Train ug tax reform kay mga kabus  maoy naligsan sa train ni Digong, pagduso sa pagpadayon sa peace talk tali sa GRP ug NDFP, batok sa Cha-cha ni Digong, paghunong sa Kontraktwalisasyon, ug uban pang isyu," Paglinawan said.

Duterte has tagged BAYAN as an underground supporter of the New People's Army, something that Paglinawan has since denied.

Duterte is expected to arrive at VSMMC at 2 p.m. and will proceed to Camp Sergio Osmeña nearby.

Some members of his Cabinet and directors of leading law enforcement agencies are also expected to join him.

Security

Tolentin said the Major Events Security framework is put into action for Task Group Pangulo, the same framework used during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial meetings, International Eucharistic Congress, and Sinulog Festival.

The framework has three sub-task groups: security, peace and order, emergency and response.

At least 1,100 police personnel from Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City will be deployed in strategic points. At least 54 personnel from the Bureau of Fire and Protection and six K-9 units from the AFP-CentCom will also augment security.

"We are on the implementation status sa atong plano para security sa president, we just have to wait if sakto pagka-execute ang plano, we are prepared for all eventualities," Tolentin said.

Since Friday, PRO-7 declared a full alert status, which meant leaves of cops were cancelled.

Tolentin assured that the region remains safe from any form of terroristic threats and that all eventualities have been preempted.

Meanwhile, Police Supt. Conrado Manatad, chief of the Traffic Patrol Group, said a portion of RR Landon Street, which is right beside Camp Sergio Osmeña will be closed today as it will be used as parking space for the President’s convoy. (FREEMAN)