More than 100 operatives from the Police Regional Office (PRO) have been deployed to help the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) in the conduct of Oplan Tambay in the urban communities in the city.
Oplan Tambay aims to apprehend minors who violate curfew hours, youth gangsterism, drinking in public places and even the vigilante group tagged as bunal squad.
Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, the PRO director, led the conduct of roving patrol around the city on Thursday night to kick off the drive.
Morales said the additional police officers will assist the DCPO in the mobile (motorcycles and other vehicles) and foot patrols to intensify Oplan Tambay.
He said policemen will be out in the streets, especially in areas where riots and other crimes are frequently reported, every night.
Morales assured that operatives will be wearing prescribed police uniform with flashlights and firearms.
He said they will coordinate with the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) for the rescued minors.
The nightly operation will also include Oplan Sita to flag down motorcycles without plate numbers and helmets and Oplan Bakal to arrest persons bringing deadly or bladed weapons.
Morales said the operatives will also check internet shops for minors playing beyond the 10 p.m. curfew time.
Col. Alexander Tagum, the director of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said he has been regularly conducting conferences with his station commanders and staff to arrest youth gangsterism in the city and the bunal squad.
“We are investigating that (bunal squad) and that is the reason why we have more deployment of personnel every night,” Tagum said. “We will clear all crime activities involving gangs and attacks on gang members.”
Tagum admitted that most of the city streets, particularly those in the urban communities, are “very quiet already” now following the whipping incidents.
But he credited the effort of the local police to monitor the activities in the barangays for the current situation.
Tagum also denied any police involvement in the bunal squad, saying the perpetrators could just be members of rival gangs out for revenge.
He said the bunal squad “is very shocking.”
The bunal squad emerged after the death of a Taiwan-bound worker in the hands of youth gang members in Bucana, Barangay 76-A, Talomo District.
But members of bunal squad were hitting not only children violating the curfew but even those adults in rampant attacks in urban communities that include Sasa and Boulevard areas.
The attacks have caused fear to night workers.
