All police stations in Davao Region on red alert

DAVAO CITY, Feb 17 (PIA) Chief Superintendent Wendy Rosario, director of the Davao Region Police Office ordered all police stations to strengthen their defenses in the wake of the rebel attack in Mati City Sunday night.

 Superintendent Antonio Rivera, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 11 said augmentation of police personnel is underway for police stations with lesser number of cops from the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

“The order applies to all police units in Davao Region,” he said.

Rivera lauded the immediate response of the Davao Oriental Police Office and the military units in the area who came to the defense of the Mati City Police Station, despite losing several personnel in the process.

As Mati City prepares to host the Davao Region Athletic Association meet on February 24 to 28, he said the police and its military-counterpart in the area will ensure the safety of the public.

“We will ensure the security of the people by this time, with the police and soldiers working together,” Rivera said.

Meantime, Lt. General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command said that a joint police and military investigation looks into the sources of the rebels in making improvised explosive device.

He said the investigation must focus on the sources of explosives and blasting caps.

“We have to cut the source, not only for those which are already being used here, but also on its supply side,” Baladad said.

Three soldiers killed and four others wounded in police station attack were hit by an IED while responding to the incident.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)