Cops place Cebu in full alert for Duterte’s visit
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has placed the entire Cebu province in full alert status since yesterday in preparation for the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.
"Effective na karon nga the island of Cebu is (on) full alert status," said Senior Superintendent Julian Entoma, who heads the Regional Operations and Plans Division leading the Task Group Security for Oplan Pangulo.
Duterte is set to visit Cebu on Monday for the unveiling of the Malasakit Center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and a jointcommand conference with Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He said that all security and safety plans are in place with the implementation of the major event security framework, the same model used during the International Eucharistic Congress, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings and the recently concluded Sinulog 2018.
Three sub-task groups have been activated: security, peace and order, emergency and response. These groups were responsible for keeping watch of the events in the last staging of the Sinulog.
He said over 1,100 personnel will be deployed during the visit, including civilian volunteers.
"With the preparation, personnel requirement, equipment, mobility, as well as logistics complied (with) na. Nag-ready og 1,100 personnel including DOH local risk reduction council included na na siya that since yesterday, walk-throughs and several inspections have been made to ensure that the visit will be smooth," Entoma said.
Based on the latest intelligence report, no major threats have been monitored so far. However, police have made preparations for militant groups that may stage a protest during the event.
He reiterated that personnel from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) have also been briefed to observe maximum tolerance during rallies.
"Isa sa gipangandaman sa atong CDM mao ang mga rallyista. Kung naa man sila, dili unta sila mang-gubot kay ang atong tao ato sad nang gi-train nga professional maximum tolerance isa na sa atong gipangandaman," Entoma said.