The Davao City Council will pass a resolution punishing the act of leaving unmarked packages in Davao City.
On Wednesday, Councilor Nilo Abellera, Jr., committee chair of peace and public safety enumerated the punishments when one would leave a package without identification in a certain place in the city.
According to him, for the first offense, one will pay the corresponding amount of P1,000 pesos, P3,000 for the second offense and for the third and succeeding offenses, P5,000 or one month imprisonment or both, depending on the discretion of the court.
Further, he said that this ordinance will add up to the security measure of the city, considering the advent of terrorist threats all over Mindanao
“Ang pirmeng tumong sa city is ang seguridad sa area of responsibility which is Davao City. Ginabuhat nato ni siya [nga ordinance] because this will cause panic.”
Earlier last week, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said in an interview that all packages and boxes, upon entering the terminals and other places, should have name, address and other details of the owner.
“Kung nabiyaan ninyo unya dili mo ma contact, muabot ang bomb squad, diha pa na claim, ma penalize mo,” the vice mayor said.
Councilor Abellera said that after committee hearing together with committee for rules, privileges, laws and ordinances under Councilor Bernard Al-ag and consultation with the city legal office this week, this ordinance will hopefully be passed and approved on the next regular session on Tuesday next week, along with the ordinance “punishing the act of recruiting and membership to ISIS and to their allied terrorist groups including those professing support thereto” announced by VM Pulong previously.
Meanwhile, Martial Law Spokesperson for Eastern Mindanao Command Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay expressed that the city ordinances are a welcome development for the military and the Philippine National Police.
“It strengthens our security here in the city and shields it from terrorist attacks. These are proactive measures which involves everybody particularly the general public to work with the government security forces in shielding the city and preventing such terror attacks be perpetrated in our city,” Gen. Gapay said.
