Authorities on Thursday downplayed the threat of a supposed combined ISIS-NPA group in the city.
However, the Task Force Davao (TFD) said they have always been on “high alert 24/7” in the city, being the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We are not lowering our guard,” Col. Nolasco Mempin, TFD commander, told TIMES, Thursday night.
A threat letter addressed to President Duterte and Mayor Sara Duterte was allegedly found at Quezon Park in front of the City Hall early Wednesday morning.
“We firmly believe it is not the handiwork of NPA or any terror group,” Mempin said.
Mempin said there is “no confirmed present threat” in the city.
He said they are investigating the Quezon Park case and they already have suspect “who might have placed” the threat letter.
But it is far from the supposed sender, supposedly combined members of the ISIS and NPA.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has refused to issue a statement on the matter.
A social media post on the reported threat became viral yesterday.
A netizen reported on Davao City’s streetwatch/Police/Fire/Rescue/Dial#911CDDCPO#09258223276 page on Facebook on the recovery of the threat letter enclosed in a cellophane with a shredded Philippine flag.
The post said that a City Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro) street sweeper was cleaning the park in front of the City Hall when she found the items at 5:30 a.m.
The attention of patrolling police officer was notified an hour later.
Addressing President Duterte and daughter Mayor Sara, the letter said they will crush the country just like they crushed the flag, with Davao as the site of an upcoming war.
The recovered items were properly turned over to San Pedro Police Precinct.
Authorities here are doubling the security particularly on the celebration of Kadayawan next month.
On Wednesday, Maj. Ezra Balagtey, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) spokesperson, said there will be deployment of more troopers in the city “depending on whatever security plan will be crafted by the security sector as far as the Kadayawan festival.”
“Our plans, programs and security activities are still in effect and being conducted to prevent terrorism in the area,” Balagtey said.
Lt. Col Raymund Dante Lachica, the outgoing commander of 3rd Infantry Battalion, said they will augment the forces to enhance the security during Kadayawan festival.
