Cotabato City security sectors assure peaceful and safe city

COTABATO CITY -- Security forces in Cotabato City have assured that
all is well with the city’s peace and order and that they are doing their best
in ensuring the people’s safety.

The Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO), 5th Special Forces
Battalion of the Philippine Army, and Task Force Kutawato all gave updates on
the city’s security situation during the Cotabato City Peace and Order Council
Meeting last week presided over by City Peace and Order Council chairperson Mayor
Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.

The CPPO reported a drop of around 48 percent in the city’s
crime rate. The CPPO also said no atrocities by threat groups have been
recorded in the city, aside from the absence of significant incidents during
major and special events.

It also noted the zero casualty report during the celebration
of the New Year as among its significant achievements.

Meanwhile, Task Force Kutawato assured that there is no
confirmed spillover of local terrorist activities in the city as a result of
the Marawi Siege. It said that while local threat groups like the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have plans to divert ongoing joint
Government-MILF operations against them by bombing urban centers, the increased
presence of the AFP and PNP forces has deterred the local terror group’s plot.

Security measures being implemented to assure peace and order in
the city by Task Force Kutawato, the 5th Special Forces Battalion, and the PNP
include routine mobile patrols, conducted mobile and fixed checkpoints,
operations conducted on the waterways in Cotabato, and security operations on
vital infrastructure.

Mayor Guiani-Sayadi, along with barangay officials,
peacekeepers, the city police also continue to implement the nightly RONDA or
Revitalized Operation and Neutralization of Drug Addiction and its Anomalies.

Initiated by the mayor less than two years ago, the RONDA is
credited for the successful reduction of crimes in the city.