More troops beefed up the Task Force Davao (TFD) to help tighten security in Davao City’s entry and border control points and convergence areas like churches in the wake of the Holy Week commemoration this week.
TFD Commander Col. Darren Comia, during the Madayaw Davao program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday morning, April 13, 2022, said: “Naa ta’y mga dugang nga pwersa na gidagdag sa mga simbahan aron mag-secure sa pagsaulog ng semanta santa. Nagsugod na atong Dominggo atong pag-deploy sa additional forces. Currently, we are securing at least 29 churches dinhi sa downtown Davao City. Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo, we’re continuously coordinating and collaborating with the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) aron masiguro gyud na wala’y mahitabo sa pagsaulog sa semana santa (We beefed up security forces in churches to secure the Holy Week observation. Deployment of additional forces started last Sunday. Currently, we are securing at least 29 churches in downtown Davao City. We are closely coordinating and collaborating with the DCPO to ensure that no untoward incident will happen during the Holy Week).”
He said they asked for additional troops from the 10th Infantry Division (ID) two weeks ago to secure the churches in the city considering the influx of people in churches this Holy Week. Comia said he was glad that the 10th ID granted their request.
The 10th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) of the Philippine Army Reserve Command, the 1105th Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, and the 2202nd Infantry Brigade (Ready Reserve) have also sent troops to augment the city’s security forces. This doubled the number of security personnel deployed in the city’s churches.
Comia added, “Nagapasalamat ta sa Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion kay very active ilang part sa tanang higayon, apil na sa everyday convergence dinhi sa syudad. Naa gyud sila sa convergence areas apil sa mga markets ug sa mga churches (We thank the Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion for taking a very active part in securing at all times our convergence areas such as markets and churches).”
He, however, assured that regular forces accompany reservists in their deployment assignments.
The TFD chief also discouraged Dabawenyos and those coming from neighboring cities and provinces who go to city churches, resorts, or other tourist destinations from bringing backpacks and non-transparent water bottles and wearing jackets so as not to delay them at checkpoints located in downtown areas and border control points.
“Aron dili namo malangan kay daghan gyud kaayong mga checkpoints inyong madaaanan, maagian, apil na diha sa mga border control points nato kaya padayon nato gipahugot ang seguridad aron ma-ensure nato walay dautan makasulod diri sa Davao City (So that you won’t be delayed as there are a handful of checkpoints that you will pass through including the border control points and we continue to tighten security to ensure no terrorist or criminal enters Davao City),” he said.
A patrol team is manning the checkpoint n Barangay 76-A in Bucana as motorized boats from Davao Gulf also enter the city through the Davao River.
Comia called on Dabawenyos and guests to submit themselves to security for inspection at checkpoints and to report to authorities any suspicious-looking activities or individuals and unattended things wherever they may be. CIO
