Northern Mindanao cops on heightened alert after Sulu explosions

June 30, 2019

The Northern Mindanao Police on Sunday declared heightened alert following the deadly blasts in Indanan, Sulu last June 28.

In a statement, Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Rafael Santiago Jr. ordered preemptive security measures set up on police checkpoints regionwide.

"We are implementing strict security protocols not only on police checkpoints but on our regional borders to ensure the safety of the public in relation to the Sulu attack," Santiago said.

"I have also directed our commanders on the ground to undertake target hardening measures, beef up police presence on the streets and conduct security measures to preempt attacks on vital installations and places of convergence," he added.

In compliance with the regional director’s directive, a series of police operations were again launched in Cagayan de Oro City that resulted in the arrest of 52 wanted criminals, drug personalities and minor offenders.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Surki Serenas, chief of the Public Information Office of Northern Mindanao Police, said the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office arrested 21 drug personalities, seven illegal gambling violators, 10 wanted persons with warrants of arrest and 14 minor offenders.

Officer-in-charge of Cagayan de Oro City Police Lieutenant Colonel Reynante Reyes said the “operation is not only focused on criminality. We have also stepped up this campaign to prevent terror threats.”

The incident of suicide bombings in Sulu resulted to the death of eight people, including three soldiers, after they were able to detect and prevent the bombers from entering the headquarters of 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT). Ella Dionisio/DMS