Davao City Police places 250 civilians under verification process

The Davao City Police on Thursday placed about 250 individuals under a verification process as part of the city's intensified security measures after martial law was declared in Mindanao.

Most of the 250 civilians came from conflict-stricken Marawi City and nearby areas fleeing the clashes between the military and the Maute Group, according to a report by GMA Davao's Real Soroche on 24 Oras.

Members of the military, police, and police auxiliary force joined forces in inspecting the streets of Davao City.

Some civilians without valid IDs or those unidentified by barangay officials were brought to the Davao City Police Office.

Davao City Police chief Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum said authorities are acting based on information that some Maute Group members are hiding in two of the city's barangays.

"[We are acting] because of information that we received na some of our fugitive wanted persons nandun sa Barangay Bucana and Barangay Mini Forest. At the same time, we have been verifying information... we are conducting validation and verification of intel reports," Tagum said.

One male individual who was brought to the police office said he is only looking for a job in Davao City, while another said he left his ID with his wife.

The report quoted Maranao tribe deputy mayor Randy Usman as saying that the military has been coordinating with barangay officials.

Meanwhile, the report said Davao City's Muslim elders also held an emergency meeting in the wee hours of Thursday to discuss the martial law declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night.

Authorities immediately released the individuals they gathered at the Davao City Police Office after the verification process. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News@gmanews.tv>