Roxas, Duterte to meet in Davao City over terror threats
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II flew to Davao City on Sunday to personally meet with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte amid reports of possible terror attacks in the city and other parts of Southern Mindanao.
The purported terror threats prompted Roxas to order all police units in Mindanao to be on alert and to boost its security operations in the region.
He also directed the Philippine National Police to look out for members of threat groups in Mindanao who might carry out the attacks.
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP spokesperson, said the police received information “with high reliability” regarding “a possible terrorist threat to the peace and security (of Southern Mindanao), particularly in Davao City.”
“We could not, however, divulge any further details of said reports… so as not to compromise ongoing security operations by both the PNP and the military (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in these areas,” Sindac said in a statement.
He said the six police regional offices in Mindanao were already instructed by the PNP national headquarters to be ready “to respond to all possible contingencies.”
Sindac said government forces in Mindanao have started conducting “preemptive security measures” like intensified foot and mobile patrols in populated areas.
He said military and police units have also been directed to implement stricter security inspections in public transport terminals like airports and popular commercial centers and vital installations.
“Police units are under instructions to, as much as possible, minimize any inconvenience to the public,” Sindac said.
Despite the possible security threats, the PNP official said the reports were “no cause for alarm” for the public.
“(T)he Philippine National Police assures our fellowmen of our continued vigilance against all these reported threats. Let us not allow this to affect our lives or decide our fate,” Sindac said.
“We urge everyone to give us any information that would be of help to the police and to our ongoing security operations,” he added.
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