TALIÑO
A day after Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa declared the country under terror alert level three, Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), assured the public that they won’t take advantage of the situation to harass civilians.
“We are just implementing security measures in response to the order from the chief PNP. Rest assured, there won’t be any maltreatment or illegal arrests. In case there are policemen who will harass you, then report it,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Police are expected to conduct frequent checkpoints on strategic areas, random searches on motorists, and raids on the hideouts of suspected terrorists.
Additional policemen were also deployed in the different seaports, airports and terminals across the country.
Despite the declaration of a terror alert level three in the country, however, Taliño said they have not received nor monitored the presence of any terrorist groups in Central Visayas.
“Until this time, we have not received specific threats in the region,” he said.
But he said the police as well as their counterparts in the Armed Forces’ Central Command are ready in case of any terrorist attack.
“Lahat naman na highly-urbanized places ay target ng terrorism kaya tayo nakahanda. Dapat lang tayong mag handa. (All highly-urbanized places are targets of terrorist so we have to prepare. It’s but proper to be ready),” said Taliño in reference to Cebu and other places in Central Visayas.
While people ought not to panic, he said everyone should be vigilant at all times.
Taliño encouraged the public to report to the nearest police station the presence of suspicious-looking people and items, including unattended luggages, or any unusual activities in their communities.
He reminded the public that despite strict security measures, criminals and terrorists always find ways to carry out their plans.
“There’s no such thing as 100 percent security. Take for example the United States. Despite their advance security measures, they still fell victim to terrorists. How much more the Philippines?,” Taliño said.
Dela Rosa on Thursday placed the entire country under terror alert level three, a warning that a deadly terror attack is imminent “within a short period of time.”
He presented to the media two men who were arrested for their alleged role in last Monday’s failed bomb attack near the US Embassy in Manila.
Dela Rosa’s statement also came after the military announced it had regained control of the municipality of Butig in Lanao del Sur, which was occupied by the terrorist Maute Group last Saturday.
The country’s terror alert was heightened after the Sept. 2 bomb attack in a night market in Davao City that left 15 people dead, and hurt 69 others.
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