PRO-12 deploys more cops as region prepares New Year’s revelry
KORONADAL CITY, Dec. 30 (PNA) — To ensure public safety and thwart attempts by saboteurs to disrupt the Filipino tradition of welcoming the New Year, the police regional office in Central Mindanao will augment police forces across the region, Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr. said Friday.
Galgo, speaking for Police Regional Office (PRO-12), said each police provincial and city offices will get 60 police force as augmentation ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebration.
The region, composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos, have been rocked by grenade attacks the past seven days, starting with the Christmas Eve grenade blast in Midsayap town in North Cotabato.
It was followed by a road side bombing that injured seven commuters in Aleosan town, also in North Cotabato.
A total of 24 persons have been injured in explosions, 17 in Midsayap and seven in Aleosan.
Galgo said the blasts were isolated and it should not hamper the Filipino tradition of welcoming the New Year. He also assured ample police security in places of worship on New Year’s Eve.
Galgo said Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, PRO-12 regional director, has directed all police directors in the region to ensure safety measures are in place starting today.
“His directive was clear, the campaign against illegal drugs should continue without let up,” Galgo said, adding that the twin blasts in North Cotabato were the handiwork of illegal drug syndicates who have been hit hard by anti-drug operations.
Galgo added that public places will be secured by joint police and military personnel such as public terminals, Churches, malls, public markets, public gathering and village centers.
Road security personnel are also deployed along major highways, especially in South Cotabato where burning of buses have been reported since November.
On Wednesday night, suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) tried, but failed, to bomb the Maguindanao police provincial office in Shariff Aguak town.
Two hand grenades were tossed at the provincial office but both did not explode. (PNA)
