More checkpoints mulled
The chief of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said there may be a need to put up more checkpoints in various parts of the city following the arrest of two suspected ISIS/Daesh members a day before a big religious activity at the city cathedral.
Senior Superintendent Nelson Aganon, chief of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said the local police has been evaluating its security stance to thwart terrorism and criminality.
“Our checkpoints are in place. We will keep on evaluating and improving our security stance,” Aganon said.
Aganon is urging the community to take part in the police’s anti-terrorism and anti-criminality efforts.
He said the public can make use of the technology to send information regarding any suspicious activities or personalities in their respective localities.
“Huwag sanang tamarin ang community na magbigay ng information. Lagi sana tayong vigilant kasi wala namang masa- mang maghinala kaysa naman mag-relax lang di makialam. At wala namang masasayang kung magresponde ang ating kapolisan kasi trabaho namin yun (Let us all be vigilant. There is nothing wrong with exercising caution. Anyway it is the job of the police to respond to reports from the community), ”Aganon said.
Aganon said because of the ordination of the Most Reverend Raul Dael as the third Bishop of Tandag in Surigao de Sur province Thursday, June 7, at the St. Augustine Cathedral, security in the city was already heightened.
The Catholic rites was led by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Tagle and more than 30 archbishops and priests and a crowd of around 1,000 witnessed the event.
But Aganon said the threat category in the city remains at level 3 due to the possibility that other members of terror groups may sneak into the city.
“Wala kaming natanggap na terror threat aside sa dati nang category na nasa level 3 dahil nga sa possibility na pumasok sa atin ang ISIS/Daesh dahil adjacent tayo sa Marawi City (There was no other terror threat other than the previous level 3 category owing to our proximity to Marawi City),” Aganon said.
The so-called ISIS couple, Eyadzhemar Abusalam and Dianne Catherine Palmitos, were arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Tablon at around 4:50 p.m. Wednesday after police received a tip that the two on board a passenger bus bound for Cagayan de Oro City.
Two grenades and a pistol were allegedly seized from the couple.
The suspects, both nurses from General Santos City, were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives on Friday, June 8.