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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’ PRO-6 GIRDS FOR MARAWI ACTION Cops court Muslim community’s support’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Friday, May 26, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is ready to send some of its personnel to Marawi City if ordered to do so.
It put its Regional Public Safety Battalion and police provincial public safety companies on notice for a possible deployment to the besieged city in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“They have been told to be prepared although we have not received an order from the national headquarters. We are conditioning their minds (this early) because Mindanao is different from the Visayas,” according to Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
Their role would likely be to enhance police visibility in Marawi City and deter lawless elements from striking, said Gorero.
Fierce clashes erupted Tuesday afternoon between government forces and members of the Maute terrorist group, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The PRO-6 has been on full alert since Tuesday although Gorero reiterated that they have not monitored any threats from the Maute group.
Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, PRO-6 director, instructed provincial and city police directors to meet the imams and leaders of local Muslim communities and sought their help in the maintenance of peace and order.
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) asked the Muslims’ assistance specifically in the gathering of intelligence information, to prevent terrorist activities.
ICPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines said they met with around 20 to 30 members of the Muslim community in Molo district under Imam Abdul Salam.
The city’s Muslim community expressed support to the government’s actions in Marawi City. They also said they were opposed to the Maute group’s actions, said Sangrines.
Early this year the ICPO successfully forged a covenant with the Muslim community against terrorism.
Sangrines said they reiterated their appeal to the Muslim community to help protect Iloilo City.
While they’re here either doing business or have decided to permanently settle, they have relatives in Marawi City, said Sangrines.
Today, the ICPO is slated to meet with the Muslims in La Paz district.
In the province, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Senior Superintendent Harold Tuzon met, too, with the leaders of the Muslim community in the municipality of Dueñas to secure their support to the police’s peace and order campaign.
“We had a good conversation. We also talked about what’s happening in Marawi City,” said Tuzon.
Yesterday, he also inspected seaports in northern Iloilo. He ordered a stringent inspection of baggage.
The provincial police office stationed a six-man Special Weapons and Tactics team to the Iloilo Airport, too.
Since Tuesday, no policemen in the region were allowed to take leaves except those who were sick.
“There’s an accounting of personnel,” said PRO-6’s Gorero.
POLICE GUIDELINES
In Metro Manila yesterday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) issued a set of guidelines in the implementation of martial law in Mindanao declared by President Rodrigo Duterte following the siege of Marawi City.
PNP public information office chief and spokesman Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos presented to the media a list of police “dos and don’ts”. They were as follows:
* at all times respect the human rights and dignity of suspects
* strictly observe police operational procedures
* stringently follow the provisions of Republic Act 7438 or the “Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or under Custodial Investigation”
* strictly obey the provisions of Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009
* The police and military personnel cannot effect warrantless arrests outside the circumstances provided under Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Court
* No arrested/detained person should be charged beyond the period of three days. After the lapse of three-day period the detained/arrested person shall be released.
* Civilians cannot be tried in military tribunals. The declaration of martial law does not suspend the functioning of the civil courts and the legislative assemblies.
* No violations of constitutional rights of a person. The constitutional guarantees under the bill of rights remain to be operative and continue to accord the people of its mandate of protection.
* No violations of the basic rights of the people/citizens.
* the declaration of martial law does not impair the right to bail
* implementation cannot be extended for more than 60 days unless extended by Congress./PN
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