"No ID, No Entry" in city

SECURITY RESPONSE --- An armored tank takes position along a busy road beside the city plaza in Cotabato City as part of security measure following  the Marawi City siege and subsequent declaration of Martial Law in the entire Mindanao island last May 23. City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi also earlier announced a “triple red alert”and the implementation of “No ID, No Entry” policy in the city. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY ---In support to President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, the Cotabato City government has implemented the “No ID, No entry” policy, the city mayor here said last May 25.

The decision was reached after Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi met all village officials in an emergency meeting last May 24 in the aftermath of the bloody terrorist attacks by ISIS-inspired Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf.

Sayadi first directed all village chiefs to intensify visibility and to conduct checkpoints “in areas where it is necessary.”

“This is to ensure (at barangay level) that no intruders will be able to penetrate and disturb the residents,” she said in a statement.

Residents and travelers will expect tightened checkpoints along the city's entry and exit points to be implemented by Army-led Joint Task Force Kutawato (JTFK).

Heightened alert is also implemented in the coastal areas and communities living near riverbanks.

In declaring the “No ID, No Entry” policy, Sayadi said this applies to all those entering the city from north and south section of Cotabato City.

Every motorist is required to log-in at checkpoints and present valid identification cards after reports that some inmates of Marawi City Jail were freed by the Maute Terror Groups that attacked the city.

Some of the inmates are Maute members from Cotabato City.

"In the exercise of public safety, we deem it necessary that everyone going in and out of the city is well accounted for," Sayadi said.

The mayor said residents are advised to always bring identification cards whenever they go out of their homes.

“Children must always be accompanied by parents and those without IDs must not go around without companions. The nightly curfew for minors is also still in effect,” Sayadi, in a statement, also said.

All residents are encouraged to report immediately to authorities any sight of unfamiliar faces in their communities.

"There is no cause for alarm or panic, but we are just implementing these strict guidelines as preventive measures to any spill-over of violence. Everyone must stay vigilant and be on guard at all times," Sayadi said.

The chief executive expressed her full support to President Duterte in his declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, saying she trusts the President's wisdom and is confident that this can prevent any terrorist attack in the future.

About seven suspects in the September 1 Davao City bombing are from Cotabato City and arrested here by government operatives. (COTABATO CITY GOVERNMENT & PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)