PREEMPTING TERRORISM

THE police in Pangasinan are prepared to respond and stop any terrorist escaping from troubled Marawi City and other parts of Mindanao who seek refuge in the Moro communities in the province.

This was bared by P/Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, chief of the police-community relations office of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) even as he expressed doubt the trouble in Marawi City could spill over to Pangasinan because of the presence of Moro communities in province.

Florentino said the Pangasinan police is on full alert and have established checkpoints along the highways, especially at night, to ensure that no fleeing terrorist can set foot in any of the peaceful Moro communities here.

Majority of the Moro population in Pangasinan consist of the Maranaws from (Marawi and Lanao) and the Tausugs.

On the possibility that there are sympathizers of the Maute group, he said the Moros in the province are known to be peace-loving and close coordination has been established by the police with the leaders of the Moro communities.

He conceded, however, that some are suspected to be involved in illegal drug trading but most have already been identified.

Florentino in a talk to the media said the police are conducting checkpoints three times a day and have called on motorists to stop and voluntarily cooperate for their own security when their identifications are being verified and their vehicles are being inspected.

Motorists only need to slightly open their windows and turn off their headlights at night.

The ‘plain view doctrine’ will be observed in all checkpoints and human rights will be respected unless motorists begin to act suspicious or appear threatening in which case calculated responses will be made, Florentino told newsmen.

On fears that the New People’s Army (NPA) might operate in the province, Florentino said there are established checkpoints in all gateways and exits of the province and regular patrols are conducted along the boundaries.

On the possibility of vital installations located in Pangasinan, such as the San Roque Multi-purpose Dam Project and the Sual-Coal-fired power plants, being sabotaged, he said tight security measures in each area are already in place.

Meanwhile, Police Provincial Director Ronald Oliver Lee called on officials and employees of the provincial government to be more cautious when receiving text messages from persons unknown to them.

He said some have already been victimized by extortionists and con artists.

Lee said in a meeting attended by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim (as acting governor), that some text messages introduced themselves as hired killers paid to kill them but have changed their mind and asked for money so they will not pursue their mission.

In such cases, persons who receive such texts are urged to report these to the police immediately, he said. (Leonardo Micua)

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