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BY TIFFANY ANNE TAN
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BACOLOD City – Police went on full alert status starting Friday, Dec. 2 after their national headquarters raised its terror alert level to 3.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) was supposed to be on full alert starting the 15th yet in preparation for the holidays.
But public security cannot wait, according to Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, BCPO spokesperson.
This means no BCPO personnel will be allowed to go on leave until the holidays are over.
Vargas said they are expecting “100 percent” of police station officers to be “on standby.”
On Thursday Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa announced they raised their terror alert level to 3 — a warning that a deadly terror attack is imminent “within a short period of time” — after he presented to the media two men who were arrested for their supposed role in Monday’s failed bomb attack near the United States Embassy in Manila.
Random checkpoints may be set up across the metro.
“Checkpoints were suspended upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte,” said Vargas. “But after the local police higher-ups noticed the rise in our crime stats, they decided to bring them back to deter criminals.”
Police stations with transport terminals in their areas of responsibility are expected to set up traveller assistance desks.
Meanwhile the Police Regional Office 18 vowed to intensify operations, especially Oplan Sita, across the island.
Oplan Sita involves random and unannounced searches on motorists and raids on hideouts of suspected terrorists.
“[We] will also continue coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Chief Inspector Dianne Grace Catedral, spokesperson.
Police advised the public to stay calm and not panic.
“Report any unattended packages in areas of convergence and any suspicious-looking person to the nearest police station,” Catedral said./PN
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