THE Davao del Norte police has beefed up perimeter security in two provincial jails in Tagum City, while prison guards Davao Penal Colony went on red alert following abduction of a provincial jail warden by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
Sr. Supt. Samuel Gadingan, Davao del Norte police commander, said that highly trained policemen have been deployed to secure the Compostela Valley and the Davao del Norte provincial jails in Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City, while the police entire police force in the province has been on full alert since December 22 in preparation for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Gadingan also said that the police forces in the province are ready for the New Year revelry.
The muzzles of the policemen’s service firearms, as well as those held by security guards were sealed with tape to deter illegal firing druing the revelry, he said.
Meanwhile, Davao Prison and Penal Farm (Dapecol) Officer in Charge Gerardo Padilla said that he placed the Dapecol guards on red alert after the Compostela Valley jail warden, Jose Mervin Coquilla, was kidnapped by NPA rebels in the early morning of December 23 in Panabo City.
Coquilla is still in rebel hands.
Padilla also said Dapecol security personnel have been ordered to desist from firing guns to meet the New Year. “Although muzzles of their firearms are not taped, we can easily know who fired their guns because Dapecol is an inclusive community, besides, the fixed locations of the prison guards are known.”
Firecrackers are also prohibited in Dapecol, although Padilla said there was a small fireworks display and small firecrackers were set off by children at the employees’ quarters during the Christmas celebration.
Padilla added that although Dapecol has been on red alert, families, relatives and friends of the inmates were allowed inside during the Christmas party on Sunday, adding that “as a tradition they have the privilege for Christmas and New Year. The legal and common wives of inmates were allowed overnight conjugal visit.”
Dapecol has a total inmate population of 6,793.