Four navy vessels patrolled coastal waters located near Sumilon Island in Argao, 65 kilometers south of Cebu, and Dumaguete City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning.
Personnel of the Central Command (Centcom) and the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) set up blocking forces in the mainland while they go after kidnappers who are said to have abducted tourists from Sumilon Island.
But there is nothing to be alarmed. The show of force was part of a simulation exercise organized by PRO-7 and Centcom’s to especially show tourists that Cebu remains to be a safe place to stay on, said a post on the Central Command FB page.
It added that the conduct of the simulation exercise was done in coordination with the West Mindanao Command and Camp Aguinaldo.
Centcom spokesperson Luzvimindo Mamauag said the drill was meant to show the public that law enforcement units in the island are prepared for any lawless attacks.
The US embassy issued an advisory last month asking their citizens to avoid going to southern Cebu towns including Sumilon Island in Argao town citing kidnapping threats.
Mamauag said Cebu remains safe from any threats, but they wanted to prepare for possible kidnapping and terrorism threats here.