CEBU, Philippines - Cebu provincial government has refuted reports about the presence of Tacloban City Jail “escapees†in the typhoon-ravaged areas in Northern Cebu.
This after text messages and reports circulating the area created panic among the residents in the northern part of the province, particularly in Daanbantayan town.
Chief of Security head Loy Madrigal disproved the report, saying the messages were hoaxes. He said that his team had been doing rounds to check the areas in the fourth district last Thursday where the reports circulated.
“Nagpangutana ko sa lungsod sa Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Bogo, and Tabogon. The same stories nga mao intawon nakapalisang sa mga tawo diha… But kun moadto ka sa mga police stations wala man. There’s no truth,†he stressed.
Last Friday they received the same reports, that time in a mangrove area in San Remigio. Security personnel from the province together with police officers responded and went to check the area only to find out that the reported armed people were fishermen from the mountain barangays of the town.
“Siguro naa-an ning mga tawhana unya naay mi-report dayon nga mao na, escapees daw sa Tacloban,†he added.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III also debunked the reports, considering them as mere rumors. He added that he also verified the report with the mayor in Daanbantayan during the oath taking ceremony last Friday.
He also appealed to the public to stop spreading the rumors, adding that whoever is caught instilling fear among the people can be criminally charged.
“Akong sugyot, please stop this talk aning escapees from jail in Tacloban. Stop causing panic among the citizenry diha sa towns in the North,†he said.
Madrigal, however, assured police visibility in the area and that Capitol security personnel are doing rounds for additional security.
“Ang personnel pud namo gi-deploy pud didto to conduct investigation and mo-verify sa reports,†Madrigal said.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director, Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac, also warned the public not to immediately believe circulating text messages of the presence of armed men on board a pump boat in the seawaters off Northern Cebu and in the islets, as this only creates fear.
Gillamac said he also received a text message stating that armed men were criminals from Tacloban City who are roaming the towns of Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, Madridejos, Sta. Fe and Bantayan.
“The reports also state that subjects are believed those who have crimes for rape, killing, harassments and the like,†Gillamac said.
These reports were verified by the police but were proven baseless.
“I would like to assure the public that PNP personnel of CPPO are on top of the situation and will not allow such thing to happen in our area,†Gillamac said.
The provincial director also appealed to the public not to forward such messages if they happen to receive them to avoid adding to the misery of typhoon victims. — Michael H. Braga and Ria Mae Y. Booc/BRP (FREEMAN)