Police tighten security in Southern Leyte ports near Mindanao

TACLOBAN CITY, May 29 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up security watch in Southern Leyte ports to prevent entry of terrorists from Mindanao to Eastern Visayas.

PNP regional police spokesperson Chief Insp. Ma. Bella D. Rentuaya said more policemen have been deployed to seaports in Liloan and San Ricardo towns, the major gateway in central Philippines from the south.

“The police have been checking passengers from Mindanao to prevent spill over of terror group to Southern Leyte,” Rentuaya said in a mobile phone interview on Monday. 

The police have been meeting with officials from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Philippine Coast Guard to report influx of people coming from Mindanao.

The two ports in the southernmost part of Leyte Island are considered as busy ports in the region. In 2016, the ports had 344,144 passengers from and to Mindanao, according to PPA.

Roll-on roll-off ships have been transporting passengers and vehicles to and from ports in San Ricardo and Liloan towns and Lipata port in Surigao City, crossing Surigao Strait. 

The distance between Surigao and Southern Leyte is only 23 kilometers.

“Likewise, our policemen have been conducting village and house-to-house visitations.

There are also short dialogue with the local officials and residents on public safety, internal security, and evil effects of communism and terrorism,” Rentuaya added.

The increase police visibility in ports is on top of checkpoints set up in strategic areas in Southern Leyte and other parts of the region following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Minadano.

Rentuaya said the police in Eastern Visayas had been on full alert status given the proximity of Leyte Island to Mindanao. 

“There will also be intensified conduct of checkpoints, patrols, close coordination with law enforcement agencies and the military,” she added.

President Duterte declared martial law in the entire Mindanao island amid the ongoing clashes between government troops and Maute terrorists in Marawi City.(Sarwell Q. Meniano/PNA)
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