SECURITY VS CONVENIENCE; Phone signal jam depriving terrorists opportunity to ruin Dinagyang

From Panay News (Dec 16, 2022): SECURITY VS CONVENIENCE; Phone signal jam depriving terrorists opportunity to ruin Dinagyang (By Glenda Tayona)

ILOILO City – Authorities here will wait for the local government unit’s decision whether to forego or push through phone signal jamming during the Dinagyang Festival next month.

Yesterday, the committee on transportation and public utilities of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) chaired by Councilor Romel Duron held a committee hearing where a bomb expert and officials of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) explained the need to suspend mobile phone services during the festival.

Police Major Garry Nee Tungala, team leader of the Explosive Ordnance Division and K-9 Unit of the ICPO, said choosing between convenience and security must be weighed thoroughly.

“Ma-(signal) jam or indi, the Philippine National Police will adopt or adjust. Kon maghambal ang SP wala signal jamming, we will adjust our deployment, we will enhance our capability. It is up to the local government unit kon ano gid dapat himuon kay on our end indi kami pwede ka hambal. Once maghambal ako okay lang wala signal jam kag may maglupok nga bomba, ang basulon kami,” Tungala said.

In the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of Dinagyang, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the police’s request for mobile phone signal jamming. It said terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals.

Tungala also explained that command-initiative improvised explosive devices are the most convenient for terrorists to make because they can detonate these even if they are far away.

“Pwede nila mapalupok bisan didto sila sa Manila and Mindanao. Basically, they can evade arrest easily. Then ang ginagamit dira, bisan P500 worth nga cell phone makabakal ka na, makahimo ka bomba,” Tungala said.

He emphasized the “triangle of crime” – motive, opportunity and victim – and terrorists must not be given the opportunity.

“Utdon ta na, indi ta sila pagtagaan sang opportunity nga makahimo sang bomba nga command detonated. Although it is not an assurance nga indi kita mabombahan kay may ara pa iban nga klase bomba… Ang aton lang gid is to get leverage lang gid (against terrorist),” Tungala said.

Iloilo City has no history of bombings either by terrorists, criminals or ill-minded individuals who want public attention, Tulangan stressed, but this should not be an excuse to be complacent.

“May ara daan ‘ya mga tawo nga gusto lang magpa-pansin. So indi ta na sila paghatag opportunity nga magkalamatay mga tawo ta di kag mabantugan kita nga nabomba ang Dinagyang kag wala na Dinagyang forever. Amo na ang ginalikawan ta,” Tungala said.

Duron, for his part, said he will present the result of the hearing to the city council or he may conduct a second round of committee hearing inviting all the city councilors together with the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) and other remaining stakeholders.

“Ang importante sini diri gindala naton ang kawsa sang iban nga indi gusto sang signal jam. Depende na ina sa aton kaupdanan, i-present ko sa ila based sa ginpanghambal sang aton expert,” said Duron.

https://www.panaynews.net/security-vs-convenience-phone-signal-jam-depriving-terrorists-opportunity-to-ruin-dinagyang/