10,000 enforcers to boost Soccsksargen security for summer

The Soccsksargen Region (outlined in red) is composed of four provinces — South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. (Image from Google Maps)

MANILA, Philippines — Close to 10,000 police officers and force multipliers will be deployed to secure the Soccskargen Region this summer vacation.

In a statement, the Soccsargen Police Regional Office (PRO 12) said a total of 3,518 police officers and 6,413 force multipliers composed of barangay watchmen, traffic enforcers, security guards, and other volunteer groups would enforce security measures in malls, churches, commercial areas, transportation hubs during the summer.

The Soccskargen Region is composed of four provinces — South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.

Police expect that traffic congestion, vehicular accidents, and increased crime during the summer, with events related to Lent, Philippine Veterans Week, Araw ng Kagitingan, Labor Day, National Flag Day, and Flores de Mayo.

There s also the midterm national and local elections on May 13.

PRO 12 will coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in conducting security operations and daily preventive patrols against possible insurgency and terrorist attacks.

Checkpoints at the entrance and exit points in malls were also put up.

Police also enhanced their intelligence gathering to maximize “social situation and knowing of persons’ families, groups or communities” and monitoring of suspicious persons and incidents.

Brig. Gen. Eliseo Tam Rasco, chief of PRO12, assured the public that the entire police force, with the support of citizens, would be well prepared to secure the region.

“We are on top of the situation,” Rasco said. “However, we need your cooperation and support for us to effectively maintain the peace and order situation in the whole region during the whole period of SUMVAC [summer vacation].”

/atm