Cotabato City lifts curfew, deploys more troops at night
CRIME PREVENTION. Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Bruce Matabalao (left in yellow shirt) joins the city police in patrolling the city’s major thoroughfares. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS (From Mayor Matabalao)
COTABATO CITY—As the city government lifts its 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew implemented during the pandemic, the city police increase its visibility by deploying more troops at night.
Colonel Querubin Manalang Jr, newly designated city police director, said the police patrol during the wee hours of the night would hopefully reduce criminality.
The troops assigned to patrol crime-prone areas complement the regular police on the block to deter crimes.
“We are on the streets while all of you are asleep,” Manalang said in a radio interview, addressing the residents. “We want to ensure your safety,” he added.
Earlier, City Mayor Mohammad Bruce Matabalao said the 10 p.m to. 4 a.m. curfew that prevailed through most of the pandemic would finally be lifted. But the mayor added that in its place would be a more effective strategy—police visibility.
Matabalao said he believed that police presence along major streets would deter criminality.
“If we need to augment police forces to be deployed at night, we will do it,” Manalang said. He suggested that business owners, especially those selling wines and beverages, should observe a cut-off time at 10 p.m. for their last servings of beers or wine.
“We understand the business side of it, and I think that (the 10 p.m. last servings) is a fair suggestion,” Manalang said.
He appealed to city residents to help the police in the fight against criminality by reporting any police officer not behaving appropriately.
“People must already have noticed the increased police visibility along the major thoroughfares in Cotabato City. This should not be a cause for alarm among residents,” the mayor said, adding that the police officers were there to ensure the people’s safety. “This is part of my crime prevention and peacekeeping initiatives,” he said. Edwin O. Fernandez
