Heightened security in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Security in Cebu City will be heightened following the twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu on August 24 that killed 14 people and wounded 78 others.

Yesterday, the police appealed for patience from the public as they intensify checkpoint operations.

"Hopefully, dili ta maigo ana...mas striktohon lang nato atong (checkpoins) kay lisod na ug malusotan ta," said Cebu City Police Director Josefino Ligan.

(Hopefully we won’t be targeted but we will be stricter at checkpoints because it will be a more difficult problem if someone slips through.)

Meanwhile, Mayor Edgardo Labella said it pays to be vigilant even if the attacks happened in Mindanao.

"If it happened there, it could happen anywhere. So let us be vigilant," he said.

Labella said Ligan has assured him that the police are working hard to prevent a similar incident from happening here.

"I had already a discussion with Col. Ligan that although the incident took place in a place quite far from Cebu City, anything can happen… He assured me that our intelligence people are working hard to prevent the same incident to happen in the city," Labella said yesterday.

Most of those killed in the explosions in downtown Jolo were soldiers and civilians. At least seven soldiers, a police officer, and six civilians were killed while those injured include 24 soldiers, six policemen, and 48 civilians.

Full Alert

Ligan said the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7 is now on full alert.

"Currently, the Police Regional Office -7 is in full alert status, so meaning walay mag-day off, and within the Cebu City area, I have directed my station commanders under Mambaling and Pardo to coordinate with our brothers (Muslim community) and will be having a dialogue with them spearheaded with our station commanders just to ensure their full cooperation, their support na this will not happen im Cebu City," Ligan said yesterday.

Ligan said the city police office will also coordinate with security officers of critical infrastructures.

Based on recent monitoring, the police have not spotted any sign of terrorism attempts in Cebu City, he said.

PRO-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro said earlier that he has directed all cops in Central Visayas to be vigilant.

The same directive was given to personnel of the Armed Forced of the Philippines, said Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, Commander of the 3rd Civil Relation Group of the Central Command.

Blasts

Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the PNP, said earlier that the first explosion in Jolo occurred at the vicinity of Paradise Food located in Barangay Walled at the opposite road at around 11:53 a.m. and later again at 1 p.m.

The military said to have identified the two female suicide bombers.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Philippine Army, said the suicide bombers were identified as "alias Nanh" — widow of the first known Filipino bomber Norman Lasuca — and "alias Indah Nay" — widow of slain Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Talha Jumsah.

Authorities are now in full alert status to monitor any suspected movements of terrorists following the explosions. — JMO (FREEMAN)