DAVAO CITY—This city remains on high alert even as suspects of the September 2 bombing are currently detained at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Mayor Sara Duterte said over the weekend.
Authorities had earlier announced that the city will be on high alert following the bombing that killed 15 civilians at the Roxas Night Market, Last month, several suspects, believed to be members of the Maute group, were arrested.
Duterte said during the 1st City Peace and Order Council meeting that Davao will stay on high alert because of the military’s continued operation against other bombing suspects in Western Mindanao.
“The suspects were transferred here in Davao City and they are in the custody of the DCPO,” she said. “I’m sure they are doing their best in securing the city as well as the suspects while the prosecutor’s office files charges against them.”
The city’s security forces remain vigilant since Davao is the home of the President and the mayor’s father, Rodrigo Duterte.
Sara Duterte also cited the activation of Joint Task Force Haribon, which specializes in counterterrorism.
Task Force Davao commander Col. Erwin Bernard Neri said his troops are currently training to boost their counterterrorism preparedness with an eye on the neutralizing the Maute Group.
“We are currently building up our counter terrorism activity, but we are also quite confident with our anti-terrorism action since there was no terror groups spotted here in Davao,” Neri said.
Since he took office after the bombing, Neri said his troops have been putting all their effort in preventing any terrorist group to enter the city, along with stricter checkpoint operations at entrance and exit points of the city.
