Cebu authorities call on the public to stop making prank calls on police hotlines so as not to disrupt legitimate government operations against suspected terrorists and drug dealers. In this photo, soldiers of AFP Central Command’s 47th Infantry Battalion are shown securing the South Bus Terminal as police and military go on heightened alert following the Davao City bombing last Friday. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The heightened police and military alert after the Davao City bombing last Friday had gotten many people vigilant; unfortunately, including eager pranksters actively jumping at every opportunity to play a joke.
The pranks have caused undue alarm, aside from a complete waste of government resources that would have otherwise been put to better use.
Yesterday alone, the Cebu City Command Control Center (C3) received two prank calls of allegedly suspicious items being left in public places. Both turned out to be not true.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, the designated deputy mayor for police matters, is requesting the public to refrain from making prank calls to law enforcement authorities as these are seen to jeopardize legitimate peace-keeping efforts.
“We are really requesting the public not to make prank calls because it’s not easy. We use up government funds for fuel and also time every time we respond to these prank calls,” said Tumulak.
With the entire country in heightened alert, each call and report received by authorities is presumed to be legitimate and is immediately responded to, he added.
Tumulak expressed worries that if people do not desist from making prank calls, government workers may not be able to respond to legitimate calls for help.
At dawn yesterday, the C3 got a call reporting that a suspicious-looking bag was left inside the Fuente Osmeña Circle.
Later on at around 9 a.m., another report of a strange box allegedly left inside the parking area of the Cebu City Sports Center was received by C3.
Both reports turned out to be false when police personnel and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) went there to check.
Tumulak said that when police respond to these reports, people in the concerned area tend to panic upon seeing uniformed personnel securing the area.
“We really appeal to the public that if ever they call, these should be legitimate emergencies. Please, don’t make fun of the situation since this can cause a stir among our law enforcers and at the same time the people around us,” Tumulak said, admitting that the city government still does not have the capability to trace prank callers and go after them.
Over at the Police Regional Office, PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño said that they are in the process of identifying the source of a text message being circulated about an alleged plot to bomb malls in Cebu.
“We are not saying the text message was completely untrue. But, please, don’t panic just because of a text message you receive,” he said.
Taliño urged the public to immediately seek police assistance whenever they notice something unusual in their respective areas.
While PRO-7 has not received direct threats, Taliño urged the public to remain vigilant and to help law enforcers monitor suspicious activities.
Taliño is not ruling out the possibility that aside from terrorist groups, drug syndicates want to create terror to disrupt government’s relentless campaign against the illegal drug trade.
“We’re analyzing the situation. In Davao City, one of the angles investigators should look into is the involvement (in Friday’s blast) of illegal drug groups which might have been affected by the nationwide campaign against illegal drugs,” he said.
Monitoring private ports
Here in Central Visayas, aside from monitoring government ports, authorities will also guard private docking areas in Cebu to prevent the entry of terrorists and illegal drug groups in the island.
Taliño assured that the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA), which has the power over private ports, is ready to secure them, while maritime forces like the Philippine Coast Guard, the navy, the local police, and even Bantay Dagat volunteers will monitor the seas.
“Private ports can be used as entry and exit points for illegal operations. We need our maritime forces,” he said, adding that illegal drugs or other contraband may be loaded on ships which do not need to dock at regular ports.
Both the PRO-7 and the Armed Forces’ Central Command (Centcom) have been placed on full alert status following the explosion in Davao City last Friday.
Taliño has ordered random checkpoints and sent additional policemen alongside troops from the Centcom to patrol the vicinity of malls, seaports, airports, and other crowded places.
This as police prepare to implement another round of Oplan Tokhang; this time, by knocking on condominium doors and going into subdivisions to encourage drug users and pushers to surrender.
“We only have few targets in subdivisions and condominiums,” Taliño said.
“But when we conduct Tokhang, it doesn’t mean you’re already involved in drugs. We will conduct house to house visits, and distribute flyers about the ill-effects of drugs,” he added.