Province, city cops on full alert status

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office is now on full alert status as major events in this year’s Sinulog celebration draw near. 

Yesterday, CPPO director, Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, directed police stations to tighten security in all ports of entry across the province. Gillamac said the gun ban also took effect yesterday.  

“Ato sad nga gihingusgan ang tawo nga naay armas nga dili sad makasulod sa Cebu City. Nagmando na ta since last week nga hingusgan ang pag-monitor sa mga wharf labi na sa gikan sa Negros,” Gillamac said.

Checkpoints, too, will be tightened, to deter unscrupulous individuals from Cebu City, especially those bringing deadly weapons.

In an earlier interview, Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, Provincial Intelligence Branch chief, said it has been a practice of the province to intensify its checkpoints because the provincial police would serve as a “buffer” to the city police force.

Albotra said lower units have also been directed to intensify monitoring of suspicious persons or groups. So far, no red flags have been raised, he said.

Supt. Romeo Santander, City Intelligence branch chief, said his group and other intelligence units are also coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in this regard.

He urged the public to cooperate with the police and to report immediately any sighting of suspicious persons so that authorities can validate and, if warranted, act on the information.  (FREEMAN)