Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU, September 6 (PIA) --
Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado urged the public not to pass text messages
warning the community to refrain from visiting commercial malls due to possible
suicide bombings in the wake of the Davao blast.
“We appeal to the public
to help government counteract the disinformation by not passing the same text
creating undue panic and chaos,” said Aumentado who presided the recent
emergency meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-7).
The meeting was called
to discuss the current peace and order situation in the region following the
Davao explosion at the Roxas Night Market last Friday night that killed at
least 14 people and left over 60 injured.
Aumentado said we must
heed the advisories of the authorities rather than believe in the text that is
being circulated around.
The issue cropped up
after Asteria Caberte, director of the Department of Trade and Industry -7 said
that she received a text message about an intelligence report on four women
from Basilan plotting to do suicide bombings in Cebu malls and to pass on the
message.
Chief Supt. Noli Taliño,
regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), however, said
there is no intelligence report about it and that the message needs to be
verified.
“We should not
immediately believe the information although all text warnings on terror
threats would be verified,” said Taliño adding that however, the public should be
extra cautious after the Davao tragedy.
Aumentado also requested
the local government units to take part in normalizing the situation by
asking the community to keep watch but not to spread fear and cause panic.
“We need to stay
vigilant, keep clam and report immediately to the proper authorities on
suspicious activities or people within our area,” said Aumentado.
(rmn/fcr/PIA7)