Cebu residents asked to report anything suspicious amid Abu scare

In this Sept. 10, 2016 file photo, a soldier in full battle gear helps man a checkpoint in Cebu City, days after the Davao City bombing. (CDN FILE PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

CEBU CITY — Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak has asked residents in the city to be more vigilant amid reports that the police have monitored the presence of the bandit group Abu Sayaff in Cebu province.

“I cannot confirm or deny the presence of Abu Sayyaf. It’s from police intelligence. We just ask the public to be more vigilant whether they (the Abu Sayyaf men) are here or not. This is our city. Security is everybody’s concern,” he told reporters on Monday morning.

He said the Muslim community in Cebu City has been helping the police and the city government monitor the presence of suspicious persons.

Tumulak, the city’s deputy mayor for police matters, also encouraged everyone to immediately report to police stations suspicious-looking persons arriving at the fish ports.

Police and military personnel, he said, have also intensified checkpoints all over the province. SFM