The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is tightly monitoring waters surrounding Bohol as a precautionary measure against any possible attacks amid the continued clashes in Marawi City south of the province.
PCG Tagbilaran personnel led by Lt. Jimmy Berbo have been conducting seaborne patrols to keep lawless elements from entering Bohol.
Berbo led his team to move around the coastal areas of Bohol last Friday evening together with PO2 Richard Historia, PO3 Albert Cirunay, PO3 Randolf Pitoy, POs Herbert Estares Jr., SNI William Forones Jr., together with POs Princestone Santilan, PO3 Raffy Drilon, SN2 Ryan Ventrino and SN2 Mark James Peria together with Chronicle reporter Jun Guiterrez,
While at the Tagbilaran pier, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) officials have ordered the heightened monitoring within the facility’s grounds.
Security at the province’s busiest seaport has been “tripled,” said PPA Tagbilaran manager Engr. James Gantalao.
According to Gantalao, stringent security measures have also been implemented at other Bohol ports including the Jagna wharf.
Jagna which is among areas in the province closest to Mindanao caters to vessels from the region where war-torn Marawi City is located.
Since the encounters between Maute group terrorists and government forces erupted in Marawi City two weeks ago, Bohol authorities have been on alert against a possible spillover of the conflict.
Earlier, Supt. George Vale, chief of the Bohol Police Community Relations Branch, told the Chronicle that police units across the province have intensified patrols and beefed up their coordination with the military, PCG and other law enforcement agencies.
The implementation of tighter security measures was carried out in accordance with a directive issued by Police Regional Office 7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, said Vale.
The BPPO official also advised against being complacent even after the band of Abu Sayyaf men who entered Bohol two months ago has been neutralized noting the need for continued vigilance among security forces and the public.
He urged residents to remain on alert to help thwart terrorist activities.
For his part, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Matanguihan assured the public that there are enough security forces in Bohol to again foil an incursion of lawless elements into the province.