Local governments ready war measures

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has assured city residents that the local government has undertaken contingency measures to ensure minimal effects of the US-led war on Iraq.

Speaking before mediamen during the second edition of the regular media forum, called "Mayor SB Reports" at the Sulo Hotel the other day, Belmonte said he has ordered Central Police District director Senior Superintendent Napoleon Castro to increase police visibility and patrol in city streets and to field additional personnel in police satellite stations.

To protect consumers against unscrupulous traders who may take advantage of the situation, Belmonte said he has ordered City Treasurer Victor Endriga to organize a team that would conduct citywide inspections of weighing scales in public and private markets, as well as gasoline stations.

He said defective weighing scales will be impounded while shortchanging gasoline stations will be sealed off until their machines are properly calibrated.

Endriga said the inspections will involve the use of a five-liter calibrating bucket to determine whether gasoline pumping machines are accurate or not.

"We will see to it that nobody is taking advantage of the situation," Belmonte said. "There will be no price increase whatsoever."

While the mayor favors peaceful means in solving the conflict, he said the city government is not letting its guard down.

He assured the more than 23 million city residents that there is no cause for alarm, as the city government is doing its best to cope up with the situation in ensuring their protection and safety.

NPD on heightened alert

The Northern Police District (NPD) placed its entire police force in full heightened alert yesterday in anticipation of possible sympathy attacks by Iraq sympathizers.

"Terrorists could strike anytime, anywhere," Senior Superintendent Raul Gonzales, NPD deputy director for operations, said.

The US launched an attack on Iraq yesterday, aimed at disarming its weapons of mass destruction.

"There might be some Iraqi backers in the metropolis who may create chaos in our midst to show sympathy with Iraq," Gonzales added.

Gonzales, however, assured northern Metro residents that the NPD has already secured all vital installations within its area of responsibility, including the shores of the coastal town of Navotas.

"We have mobilized all our men in the field and we also sought the support of barangay tanods to help the police secure vital installations, economic key points and places of convergence," Gonzales added.

Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr. also ordered yesterday the implementation of random checkpoints in the entire Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area to avert any potential attack by terrorist backers of Iraq. – With Pete Laude