Some P2.4-million worth of illegal drugs were seized by authorities at the Sirawan checkpoint in Toril, the Davao City government said.

In a news release, the city government said the dangerous drugs were confiscated by membes of the Task Force Davao on Monday from a vehicle traveling from Cotabato City.

Task Force Davao Commander Col. Consolito Yecla said one of the two suspects aboard the vehicle was also arrested. He was identified as Ronnie Martinez Jr., a resident of Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

“The suspect was checked at the light vehicle inspection area and requested to open his small sling bag. The duty inspector requested the driver to park at the side, but he drove away from the checkpoint leaving behind his small sling bag at the inspection area,” he said.

Martinez yielded three jumbo size heat-sealed, transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated weight of 150.43 grams valued at P2,406,880.

According to Yecla, the suspects drove away when asked to get off from the vehicle for inspection. The vehicle was later found abandoned in front of Gaisano Grand Mall in Toril.

One of the suspects reportedly rode a tricycle while the other ran towards Barangay Marapangi, he said.

One of them was later caught with the help of some residents who found him drenched after crossing a river. The other suspect appeared to have gotten away but left behind his wallet, which was turned over by the tricycle driver who gave him a ride.

Yecla expressed gratitude to those who helped in the apprehension of the suspect.

“We would like to give thanks and attribute this successful apprehension of the suspect to the tanods and residents of Brgy Marapangi. Indeed, they participated in our anti-terror campaign “May Nakita? Dapat Magsalita,” Yecla said, referring to the city’s public campaign against terrorism.

“We accomplished this without a fatality, and zero human rights violation,” he added.

The Davao City government has announced it will conduct a community exercise to test the residents’ cooperation with authorities and reaction to terrorism incidents in line with the city’s campaign on the “culture of security.”

In a statement issued on Monday, the city government said the Task Force Davao will hold next week the anti-terrorism simulation drill, which will evaluate the cooperation of city residents in reporting suspicious persons in line with its campaign dubbed as “may nakita, dapat magsalita.”

“The exercise also aims at eliminating the tendency of the public to panic, instead develop or increase their level of vigilance and aggressiveness in the fight against terrorism. This is also a test on impact of flashing or disseminating the identity of suspected terrorists to the public,” it added.

Task Force Davao Commander Col. Consolito Yecla said that this is the first time that the public will be involved in the city’s anti-terrorism simulation exercise. 

“What we want to happen is to test how the individuals will react without causing panic in the City,” Yecla said. 

In the scenario, the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) through the Central 911 will announce using radio stations and other means of communication the presence of 25 persons disguising as terrorists.

Each establishment, from churches, hotels and inns, restaurants, malls, and government establishments, will be targeted by five actors.  

Once the “terrorist” is reported either to TFD, DCPO (Davao City Police Office), or the PSSCC, it will be counted as “neutralized” by the sector.

Yecla urged everyone, especially establishment owners and their clientele, to participate in the community exercise. 

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time since his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte made his public appearance to visit Jolo, Sulu.

Specifically, the President visited the sites of the twin explosions that occurred on August 24 which killed a number of soldiers.

He delivered a short speech before the troops at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters where he vowed to give his full support to the military in fighting and eradicating terrorists activities in Mindanao. 

“Bilang isang Pilipino ibibigay ko sa inyo ang lahat ng suporta na kailangan ninyo para matupad ang inyong misyon dito sa Jolo (As a Filipino, I will give you all the support you need to accomplish your mission here in Jolo),” he said. 

“I commit myself to working with you my dear troops to ensure that these terrorists will have no future in this country,” he added.

During the ceremony, the President commended the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the sake of peace and order in the province. 

President Duterte said that he regrets the situation in Mindanao and added that if not for the atrocities in the region, it could have attained the progress that the province has been aspiring for decades.

“For decades, Mindanao’s progress has been hindered by the threat of insurgency and extremism,” the President said. 

“Kung wala lang sana itong seed of hatred na nakalagay sa isip from generation to generation, sana ngayon maganda na ang buhay para sa lahat, (If only the seeds of hatred had not been planted in the minds of people from generation to generation, quality of life [in the region]would have improved for everyone by now),” he added.

The President appeals to all government forces to continue the fight against terrorism and work hard to achieve long lasting peace in the country. 

“If we cannot really agree,  then we fight and we fight hard hanggang magkaubusan na (until no one is left). Maybe by that time, kung ubos na ang lahat, wala ng giyera (when everyone is gone, the war would finally end)” he said. MNP (with reports from Rosalie COZ)