TF Davao urges public to be vigilant on unattended baggage

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 2, 2021): TF Davao urges public to be vigilant on unattended baggage (By Joey Dalumpines)

DAVAO CITY (PIA) - An officer of the Task Force Davao urged residents to cooperate with authorities in preventing Improvised Explosive Device runs by reporting unattended baggage.

Colonel Consolito Yecla, commander of the Task Force Davao revealed the IED that blasted yesterday in Barangay Sibsib, Tulunan, North Cotabato that killed one sidewalk vendor and wounded five others was hidden in an unattended baggage in a waiting shed as a bus was approaching its direction.

He said that right after receiving the information about an IED explosion in Barangay Sibsib, Tulunan, North Cotabato, members of the Task Force Davao intensified the search on the baggage of bus passengers coming to Davao City in three checkpoints in Barangay Sirawan, Barangay Lacson and in Lasang.

“I also coordinated with the management of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal for the immediate inspection of buses going to the south and to strictly implement the no picking up of passengers outside the terminal,” Yecla said.

He stressed picking up passengers outside the terminal is a violation of the security protocols implemented in the city.

Yecla said Coast Guard had been coordinated to monitor the Davao Gulf while Task Force Davao members were reinforced in the Barangay Sirawan Checkpoint with the armored vehicle stationed at the center of the road to deter bad elements.

“We are working with the PDEA and the City Veterinary Office to enforce their respective mandates like illegal drugs and the African Swine Fever, “he said.

Yecla called on travelers residing outside Davao City to prepare their documents like IDs and travel authority from where they came from once they enter Davao City.

He said people outside Davao Region like Visayas and Luzon must present a negative RT-PCR test before they are given access to the city. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1065605