CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) has tightened security around the Cebu Provincial Capitol following a reported assassination plot against Governor Pamela Baricuatro.
CPPO Director Police Colonel Abubakar Mangelen Jr. said a quick reaction team composed of highly trained personnel has been deployed to augment security at the Capitol compound. He also sought clearance from the Police Regional Office to increase the governor’s security detail.
Under existing rules, elected and appointed officials are entitled to a maximum of two police security escorts.
Mangelen said an investigation into the reported threat is already underway and covers a nationwide scope, following a directive from Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. for all regional units to intensify intelligence monitoring.
Governor Baricuatro disclosed last week through a social media post that she is facing a serious security threat, claiming that an alleged hired killer from Mindanao was offered P2.5 million to assassinate her.
Mangelen said authorities are currently validating the information, noting that the alleged threat was relayed to the governor through a phone call from a concerned friend.
“She received the information through a call from a concerned friend about the presence of this threat against the governor,” Mangelen told reporters yesterday.
He declined to provide further details on the identity of the governor’s friend or how the individual obtained the information.
Mangelen strongly condemned any threat against the life of a government official, stressing that such matters are treated with utmost seriousness.
“Any threat to the life and immediate family of any government official—appointed or elected—is taken seriously, and we have procedures in place to validate this information,” he said.
After learning of the threat, Mangelen said police immediately coordinated with and advised the governor to further tighten her security, including that of her family.
He added that the CPPO is working closely with various security agencies and PNP units within and outside the province, noting that Baricuatro frequently appears in public.
“We have coordinated with other security agencies and PNP units so that whenever the governor performs her duties, we can still provide security in those areas,” he said.
So far, authorities have yet to identify any persons of interest linked to the threat. However, Mangelen said police are looking into groups involved in gun-for-hire activities nationwide, given Cebu’s strategic location between Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Mangelen also revealed that the CPPO recently conducted a security inspection of the Capitol and is considering the establishment of a police detachment within the compound.
“It is part of our recommendation to organize a Capitol Police Detachment not only for the security of the governor but for the protection of the entire installation,” he said.
He described the Capitol as a vital and critical infrastructure, as it houses the offices of the governor and other provincial officials and is frequented daily by the public.
| Written by Nicholas Jon Malaga/FPL
