Iligan City Mayor Explains Lockdown

Video file: PSI Sabino Labitad, PNP Special Forces on Public Safety, Team leader of NSC Highway checkpoint joint task force with the Military. 

Iligan City Hall Amphi-theater

Iligan City (By Jac Macatimbol) – After the premature declaration of lockdown in Iligan City, it earned a lot of different reaction from the people due to no clear explanation of how it goes. On Monday, May 29, 2017 during the flag raising ceremony at Anahaw Amphitheater, Palao, Iligan City, Mayor Celso G. Regencia explained how the lockdown should work, “ang lockdown og naay operation ang atong tropa nga nagkural sa gawas dili na magpasulod og magpagawas. Kung dunay gidakop nga terosista sa sulod ang ilang mga kauban dili na maka-conduct og reinforcement,” (There will be lockdown when the troops surrounding the City will not allow entry, in and out to prevent terrorist from calling for reinforcement when for example the Military and PNP is in pursuit of terrorist in the City.)

Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia

He also encouraged the people to be patient and follow curfew hours to avoid being involved in any unwanted incident during operations. He advised to stay away if there are suspicious activities and let the authorities to do their job especially on verifying and defusing bombs. He also said that garbage collector, slaughter house butchers and specially the Doctors who work 24 hours are exempted in the curfew.

In another development, PSI Sabino Labitad, PNP Special Forces and team leader of the Check point at National Steel Corporation (NSC) Highway extended his thanks to all commuters for their understanding and patience during inspection in checkpoints. He said during curfew hours only few people will pass in the national highway but they are always subject for inspection. Labitad said they did not apprehend any person or suspected terrorist during the time of their assignments.

NSC Highway checkpoint inspection

Another development gathered that a plan to conduct Interfaith prayer rally by the Muslims and Christians religious leaders including the Sultanate of Marawi on June 1, 2017 at the City Public Plaza in Iligan City was aborted due to security concerns.  With reports by jun Enriquez, photo courtesy from FB and Jac Macatimbol.