PNP beefs up security in Northern Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) has issued a public safety advisory after another improvised explosive device (IED) rocked the town of Isulan in Sultan Kudarat, leaving two minors dead and more than a dozen hurt.

PRO-10 regional director PCSupt Timoteo Pacleb has ordered the tightening of security in major areas in Northern Mindanao, particularly in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, to continuously put into effect security measures implemented in connection with the "full alert status" in the entire region, according to Police Supt. Surki Serenas, spokesman of PRO-10.

Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities were given more than 500 security personnel augmentation, which were ordered to be deployed in strategic areas.

"This will ensure that practically every busy corners, commercial hubs and other places of convergence will be manned either by uniformed police or covert security personnel to prevent untoward incident from happening," Pacleb said.

The region's top cop also ordered thorough inspections in all checkpoints; deployment of more personnel, explosive ordnance K9 teams in places of convergence, economic key points and transport terminals, airports and sea ports; extra watchfulness for suspicious persons, packages or activities; intensification of intelligence gathering; and conduct of innovative strategies to harden soft targets.

Despite the security measures, Pacleb acknowledged the indispensability of public support in keeping peace and public order in Northern Mindanao. "The public remains our primordial and most effective weapon against terrorism. The public just need to be vigilant by doing our share to stop terrorism," Pacleb said.

"Say something when you see something," he added.

"We have won against crime and will continue winning so long as the public continue to support and rally behind us," Sereñas said.