The Task Force Davao has called on city residents to cooperate in the midst of tight security in the city that arose with the declaration of Martial Law by President Duterte.
The Task Force Civil Military operations officer Maj. Mario A. Tena said the declaration was due to violent activities of the Maute group and its allies in Marawi City.
Tena said that TF Davao is still waiting for specific guidelines from higher headquarters regarding the 60-day imposition of Martial Law in Mindanao, adding that the declaration was relayed to them verbally by City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The city mayor has given instruction to intensify inspection of baggage, especially those that are city-bound.
The task force is doing away with profiling checkpoint but its inspections will not exempt trucks and light or private vehicles.
Maj. Tena said did not discount the possibility of the city as a prime target of terroristic activities, considering that it is the hometown of President Duterte himself.
Tena said the TF Davao has added personnel comprising of two platoons to secure the city.
He added their intelligence-monitoring group has its eyes glued on the presence of suspected terrorists bound for the city, including their ‘eyes and ears’ among the local population.
The task force has also enlisted the assistance of Muslim community leaders in ferreting out suspected terrorists or their supporters.
The TF officer said the security group has been on the receiving end of threats since when President Duterte assumed office but that there were no threats related to the Marawi incident.
“But this is no reason to be complacent even as we seek the cooperation of the public in securing the city,” he said.
Tena said the task force has also intensified its foot and mobile patrol as well as the continuation of random checkpoints in such areas like Toril, Lacson, Lasang, vital installations and in converging areas.
