CAGAYAN
DE ORO CITY: The “City of golden friendship” is still friendly but people here are
cautious against terrorists, this after a reported bus explosion took place,
Dec. 9, in Maramag, Bukidnon where 11 passengers died while 43 were reported
injured.
Earlier, the PNP Bukidnon Provincial Command has placed
their whole territory on red alert.
In
a report by DxRU-Radio Ultra, police authorities here are also on a 24-hour rotation
manning entry and exit checkpoints in the city.
This
marching order, according to DxRU, was from the Cagayan de Oro City Police
Office (COCPO), alerting its personnel about being watchful and vigilant at all
times.
COCPO police director S/Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera
said he is also implementing police visibility and spread city patrol units in
all areas of downtown Cagayan, including churches, ports and malls.
Olaguera noted that baggage inspection on all
passengers before boarding buses at the terminal should also be put into
practice by security guards employed by bus companies.
Misamis Oriental provincial administrator Jun
Pacamalan said they are making the rounds of securing entrance and exit ways of
the province.
In
its interview with PRO-10 spokesperson Supt. Bernie Mendoza, the police officer
said that in terror campaigns like bombings, the PNP automatically place a
so-called “conditioned response system.”
Mendoza
also said that PRO-10 director C/Supt. Isagani Francisco Genabe himself went to
the crime scene in Bukidnon and assessed the situation by forming a task force to
investigate the explosion.
In
an information obtained by Philippine Preview, PNP Maramag deputy Insp. Jose
Sevellino confirmed the reported 11 people killed in the bus explosion, whom
mostly are students of Central Mindanao University in Musuan.
Police
said the bombing is most likely a handiwork of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters (BIFF).
In another interview with DxRU, Bukidnon board member
Gordon Torres, vice chairman of the peace and order, suggested that RTMI Transit
buses should stop getting passengers along the road and should only give
attention to those who embarked at the terminal.
Strict security at the terminal should always be made
available, he added, by using metal detectors or K-9 dogs, if possible, who
could detect explosive devices carried by passengers.