Full alert stays ahead of Surigao sports meet

TANDAG CITY – The whole province of Surigao del Sur, including the cities of Bislig and Tandag, remained under full alert status to avert any untoward incident, it was learned yesterday.

The “Alert Memo” issued by the provincial headquarters of Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) was reiterated after a bombing incident of a passenger bus where two persons were wounded at an eatery in Hayanggabon, in Claver town, Surigao del Norte last week.

The investigation of that incident was still being conducted by the combined bomb disposal and ordinance experts of Surigao del Norte PPO, Claver MPS and PRO 13.

Surigao del Sur acting provincial director Sr. Supt. Narciso Verdadero said the “Alert Memo” will remain until the 2015 Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) weeklong is held from February 22 to 27.

Close to 4,000 athletes, teachers and coaches from the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur and the cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan and this city will compete this year.

The alert memo carries specific directives like the conduct of inspection on bus and jeep terminals, intensification of intelligence gathering, setting up of strong check- and chokepoints, strict implementation of Patrol 101 and maximizing police visibility especially in places of convergence to preempt similar incident.

All lower units were also instructed to closely coordinate with their Army counterparts in their respective area of responsibility (AOR) to thwart any enemy hostile plans, he added.