The Davao City Police Office on Wednesday disclosed that the city has been placed under on full alert status following the jailbreak at the North Cotabato District Jail in Kidapawan City where 158 detainees escaped.
In a press conference, DCPO spokesperson Catherine dela Rey echoed police chief Michael John Dubria’s directive that all police units in the city must conduct random checkpoints in case some of the escapees might have fled to Davao City.
Dela Rey said that the police station commanders under the DCPO have ordered to threat the jail break as a major concern since “most of the escapees had criminal cases filed against them in court.”
“We take no chances given that the city is always a target of atrocities; hence both police and the community must remain vigilant,” De la Rey said.
She also encouraged the residents to report to the authorities the presence of new and suspicious individuals in their respective areas immediately to the nearest police station for the authorities to conduct checks and validation of their status.
“Everyone is encouraged to report the pictures of new and suspicious individuals, and persons of interest there for us to always cross-check with all other police station commanders and in those photos posted in Kidapawan City to immediately fast-track the escapees,” he said.
Leoncio Cirunay, director of the Office of Civil Defense – Davao Region (OCD XI) added that the authorities are responsible for bringing the respondents back to the jail.
Cirunay pointed out that the city’s security would be reinforced by members of Philippine National Police, Task Force Davao and Joint Task Force Haribon.
“The OCD will intervene if the incident will have dire consequences that will affect a large number of people,” Cirunay said, adding that their department is also monitoring the situation.
