Dela Rosa: We won’t be cowed by this act of terrorism
PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa speaks during a news conference regarding the deadly Davao blast at Camp Crame, Quezon City, September 3, 2016. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
“We will not be cowed by this single act of terrorism,” said Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Saturday as he assured the public that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was in “full control” of the situation after the deadly explosion in Davao City.
Dela Rosa expressed the PNP’s sympathies to the victims and their families as he strongly condemned the “evil act of terrorism.”
“We will not be cowed by this single act of terrorism; these people don’t deserve an inch of space in a civilized society,” he said.
The police chief said the incident was confined in Davao City and far from being in a “crisis situation.”
“Let me emphasize that this is not a crisis situation— we are too far from such point of being unable to help ourselves. Government remains in complete control of the situation, in Davao and the rest of the country,” he said.
READ: ‘Bato’ places PNP on full alert nationwide after Davao explosion
Dela Rosa urged the public to remain calm and vigilant.
“We appeal to the public to remain calm, vigilant and alert in reporting to authorities any unusual movement or activities of suspicious persons,” he said.
He assured Filipinos that the PNP was addressing “threats with utmost prudence and due diligence.”
“We assure the public of the readiness of the Philippine National Police in addressing any threat of this nature, and thwarting any attempt by threat groups to sow fear and anxiety among our people,” he said.
He said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would not allow the incident “to escalate and spill into other key cities of Mindanao.”
He said a “thorough investigation” was underway.
“A security lockdown is in effect in Davao City as police and military security forces fan out to certain locations to reinforce control points on ingress and egress to and from Metro Davao,” he said.
Dela Rosa earlier placed the PNP under full alert status, following the President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of “state of lawlessness.”
READ: Palace: State of lawlessness over PH constitutional
“The 100% availability of police resources and personnel will give the PNP greater flexibility and momentum to implement security measures and conduct police operations to identify and arrest the perpetrators of this crime,” he said. CDG
