Ongoing security efforts in Davao City just 'precautionary measures'

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30): Ongoing security efforts in Davao City just 'precautionary measures'

With the military and police placing Davao City under tight watch, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday said that moves are just "precautionary measures" to safeguard civilian lives and properties that may be under threat.

"Davao City, Iligan, Cagayan De Oro and Zamboanga City are always under threat, so security measures put in place by the military and police are just precautionary measures," he said in Filipino.

Gazmin said security measures need to be tightened in these areas as government security forces have scored heavily against the Abu Sayyaf Group which might be planning to retaliate.

The Eastern Mindanao Command earlier announced that it has beefed its checkpoints and patrols in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in wake of the terror threat against Davao City.

Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, said that they are still clarifying reports that Basit Usman, an Abu Sayyaf Group operative with ties with the Jemaah Islamiyah and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, is the brains behind the threat.

"Our intelligence units are still validating this reports. They are still determining possible plans, motives, and locations for this purported attack," Caber said in Filipino.

The Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson stressed that terrorist threat can materialize in a form of a simple bomb attack or a car bomb albeit no confirmation can be made yet.

Car bombs are the trademark of Basit who is known to perpetuate a series of car bombing attacks in 2002 in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

He added that they are being aided in this endeavor by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Aside from the police checkpoints, Caber said that travelers heading for Davao City, after the airport, need to pass five to seven checkpoints before being allowed entry to the area.

The Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson said that passing through these security cordons will take at least an hour.

Aside from manned checkpoints, plainclothes operatives are constantly monitoring Davao City for possible infiltrators.

Caber stated that checkpoints are also deployed in the boundaries of Cagayan De Oro and Bukidnon near Davao City.

Signs with the hotlines of the local police are scattered all over Davao City to give civilians an idea on where to contact authorities should suspicious looking persons come to their areas.

 

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=658219