Search
Product Categories
In the News
Duterte orders malls to tighten security - (Executive Order No. 24)
STARTING Tuesday, mall operators in Davao City may be at risk of facing closure should they fail to follow City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's order to provide adequate security.
By virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 24 dated September 20, Duterte issued his stern warning against all shopping malls and/or commercial centers in the city to: install, operate and maintain high end and high definition closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras positioned within eye level of an average-height person; subject every individual to a bodily search/inspection, particularly those wearing caps and sunglasses with dark lenses; and install CCTV cameras at the entrance and exit points of each of the movie houses, common hallways leading to all comfort rooms.
Duterte directed all shopping malls and/or commercial centers to comply with the provisions "within the week." Non-compliance will be a ground for suspension and/or revocation of business permits and closure of establishment.
In his EO, Duterte explained that the CCTV cameras must be installed within eye-level of an average height person in order "to ensure facial and physical identity of everyone who enters and leaves the malls and/or commercial center's premises."
Security personnel are directed to subject every person -- man, woman, or child -- to a bodily search/inspection, including his/her bags, pouches, purse, and the like upon entry.
Further, those wearing caps, hats, helmets, bonnets, headgears, and the like, as well as sunglasses or any dark-lens eye wear, are required to remove these during security inspection.
Individuals who refuse to do so are "absolutely be denied entry into premises."
"It is inherently the prime duty and responsibility of the government to adopt measures to protect the people and ensure the safety and security of their persons and properties at all times," the EO read.
The EO No. 24 came within just the week when two improvised explosive devices (IED) placed in SM City Cinema 1 and Gaisano Mall Cinema 5 exploded almost simultaneously on September 16 around 9 p.m.
"The clear purpose of these bombings is to sow terror among the people, erode the faith of all Dabawenyos in the capability of the government, and undermine the security of the populace," the EO read.
It added that public places, such as malls, where many people flock for "leisure, shopping, and entertainment are choice targets of terrorism and other forms of criminality."
The mayor tasked the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to "monitor, enforce, and implement strictly the provisions" of the EO.
DCPO director Ronald dela Rosa, on the other hand, vowed to strictly follow the mandate given to them by Duterte.
He said it is very important for the mall owners to comply with the EO since the authorities' top most concern all this time is the safety and security of the people from terrorism and other forms of criminality.