PNP Bicol on full alert after Davao City market blast
LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol was placed on full alert on Saturday in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration placing the entire country under a “state of lawlessness” following the bomb explosion before midnight on Saturday in a Davao City night market.
Police Senior Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib said the thousand-strong police force in the entire region were placed under 24/7 full alert status.
READ: AFP on high alert after deadly Davao blast
Calubaquib, quoting a directive from the PNP central said all regional as well as provincial, city and town police units were directed to strengthen and fortify all police stations, detachments and camps against possible terrorist attacks in their respective areas. They were also directed to set up checkpoints and deploy police patrols in areas of convergence and vital infrastructure installations such as power and communication lines.
Police checkpoints would be set up in all major road networks in the six provinces of Bicol.
The nationwide full alert declaration called on all police regional directors, provincial police directors including hundreds of chiefs of police to closely supervise and intensify their security measures in airports, seaports, bus and public utility terminals, malls and public places.
While conducting checkpoint, they were ordered to exercise extreme caution and told to coordinate with the military and other agencies.
READ: Duterte: State of lawlessness part of duty to protect PH
Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) here issued a warning to the public to be cautious in going to malls following unconfirmed reports about a possible bomb threat by suicide bombers from Mindanao who wanted to sow terror in Legazpi City.
The NBI later lifted the alarm status after it verified that the report was a hoax.
The Joint Police Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) would hold simulation and communication exercises for an effective coordinated security measures soon. CDG
