GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Government forces have stepped up intelligence and security operations here and in neighboring areas in the wake of the deadly bomb attacks on Sunday in Jolo, Sulu.
Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said Monday all their units are currently under heightened alert in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and South Cotabato.
“We beefed up our security checkpoints and assigned additional intelligence personnel to monitor possible movements of local terrorist groups,” Ancan said.
Ancan said security measures have been in place but said they “heightened our operations even more” as a precautionary measure after the Jolo church bombings, which left 20 people dead and more than 100 others wounded.
He noted that Army troops remain on full deployment in strategic areas, with the prevailing martial law in the entire Mindanao.
In this city, the official said the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan has assigned personnel to secure the city airport, Bulaong Terminal, Makar Port, and various government and private establishments.
The task force maintains checkpoints in the city’s main entry and exit points, he said.
Ancan said elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the 73IB are also monitoring the coastal areas of Sarangani and other parts of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Davao Occidental.
He said they have deployed troops under the 39IB to secure parts of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.
“Our operations are closely coordinated with the Police Regional Office-12 (Soccsksargen) and other local law enforcement units,” he said.
Ancan called on residents to be vigilant and immediately report to authorities any unattended baggage or packages, as well as movements of suspicious persons.
“Security should be everybody’s concern. Rest assured that we will do our part to ensure and realize lasting peace and development in our area of responsibility,” he added.
