Vigilance vs. threats to peace

VANGUARD OF PEACE--- Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi stresses how important it is for Cotabateños to be vigilant at all times to combat threats of crimes and terrorism in order to maintain peace and order. “It is the responsibility of everybody,” she said. (GILMHAR A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- This city government conducted last February 8 its first  City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) meeting for the year 2017 attended by barangay officials and representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who chairs the CPOC,  emphasized that lots of investors would come in “if we are able to maintain peace and order.”

“The maintenance of peace and order is not the sole responsibility of those who are from the government. We need the help and cooperation of everyone. It is our responsibility to guard our beloved city from threats of crime and terrorism. We can say it is now peaceful in Cotabato City, but I appeal to my fellow Cotabateños to be vigilant at all times,” she said.

Guiani-Sayadi also appealed to the barangay officials to always take a pro-active stance and be of help to authorities in maintaining peace and order.

Police Chief Inspector Efren T. Salazar, Jr., chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cotabato City Police Office, said that as per records from July to December 2015 and from July to December 2016, there were comparative decrease in crime volume and increase in crimes “cleared” and “solved.”

“For the year 2015, there were 987 total crime volume listed with 286 crimes cleared and 279 crimes solved. For the year 2016, there were 979 total crime volume listed with 314 crimes cleared and 309 crimes solved,” said Salazar.

The lady chief executive said that plans are underway for the reactivation of the Joint Task Force Kutawato (JTFK), also known as Task Force Cotabato.

The task force, together with military and police personnel, had led previous security missions backed by the local government unit. The last was some five years ago in the fight against kidnap-for-ransom groups (KFRG) in this part of Mindanao.

“We are going to reactivate the task group to focus on the growing threats of terrorism aside from our anti-illegal drug campaign," said Guiani-Sayadi.

The JTFK would serve as augmentation force to conduct internal security operations and neutralize all threat groups, including terrorists. (GILMHAR A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)