BUS EXPLOSION. A blast rips through the back of a Yellow Bus Line unit around 12:15 p.m. Thursday (May 26, 2022) in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. The Philippine National Police on Saturday (May 28) reminded its regional directors to intensify security measures to prevent similar incident from happening again. (Photo courtesy of Brigada GenSan)
MANILA – All regional directors of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been reminded to intensify the security measures in their respective areas of responsibility following two bombing incidents in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat last week.
Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, PNP director for operations, condemned “in the strongest terms” the bombing of a passenger bus that injured two people in Koronadal City, South Cotabato on Thursday.
On the same day, another explosion also using improvised explosive device occurred at a vacant lot in Barangay New Carmen, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat -- both in Soccsksargen (Region 12). No one was injured.
“But this condemnation should come with the necessary security adjustments and new strategies to protect civilians, especially from similar attacks," De Leon said in a statement on Saturday.
De Leon said the unit commanders were directed to conduct inspections in all transport terminals; major thoroughfares and strategic roads; target-hardening of vital installations, public places, and other places of convergence; and beef up intelligence-gathering.
"Our PNP OIC, Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., has already ordered a thorough investigation into the attacks in Koronadal City and Tacurong City to identify and hold responsible those involved. These people must be brought to justice; otherwise, they will be emboldened to undertake similar attacks in the future," De Leon said.
De Leon said the PNP National Headquarters is ready to deploy additional troops, if necessary, to run after the groups involved.
He said that while the investigation and pursuit operations are underway, regional directors and unit commanders in neighboring areas should come up with the necessary security adjustments to protect civilians in coordination with other stakeholders that including the transport operators.
"Dito papasok ang kahalagahan ng pagtutulungan ng kapulisan at komunidad para hindi mabigyan ng oportunidad ang mga taong ito na muling magsagawa ng ganitong uri ng pambobomba (This is the importance of the police and the community working together so that these people are not given the opportunity to repeat this type of incident)," he noted.
"We need to send a strong message to those responsible na hindi natin palalampasin ito. Kailangang managot ang dapat managot sa nangyaring ito (The person responsible for this incident must be held accountable)," he added. (PNA)
Source: Business Diary Philippines
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