PAGADIAN
CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Dec. 27 (PNA) -- Police and military forces in this
province have been placed on “triple red alert” to be able to swiftly respond
to atrocities from lawless and terrorist groups, officials disclosed.
Senior
Supt. Sofronio Ecaldre, provincial police director, on Tuesday disclosed they
raised the alert status based on the recommendation of the National Security
Council following intelligence report of possible attacks and bombings by
terrorist groups.
On
Christmas eve, 16 people, including a policeman, were injured in a grenade
explosion in front of a Catholic church while churchgoers were receiving holy
communion in Midsayap, North Cotabato.
However,
authorities said the grenade, which was lobbed towards a police car, was the
handiwork of a drug syndicate affected by the anti-drug campaign in North Cotabato.
Ecaldre
said it was agreed during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting that
police and soldiers’ visibility will be increase in public places like public
markets, plazas, bus terminals, malls, and churches especially on New Year’s
eve.
He said
the city and municipal police stations would take charge of security in their
respective areas while the Provincial Public Safety Company, together with the
Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion, are designated to conduct mobile checkpoints
along the national highways.
Supt.
Michael Palermo, city police chief, has advised the public to refrain from
carrying backpacks while going to public plazas and malls.
Police
authorities also advised the public to refrain from igniting firecrackers in
welcoming the new year. (PNA)
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