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[av_heading heading=’‘Abu terror threat in Negros Or. Real’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, April 16, 2017
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DUMAGUETE City – Ranking police and military officials in the Visayas yesterday confirmed that the threat posed by the notorious kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf is for real in Negros Oriental and nearby areas like Apo Island, Sumilon Island and Siquijor.
But they assured the public that security forces and assets were in place to thwart the attacks of the Mindanao-based group, following the April 10 incident in Inabanga, Bohol where the bandits and a joint team of police and military forces clashed, leaving nine people dead.
Lieutenant General Oscar Lactao, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Central Command (CentCom) in the Visayas, and Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, regional director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), called on Negros Oriental’s Gov. Roel Degamo yesterday morning to discuss security measures.
During a confidential briefing attended by members of the Joint Task Group Deter and Joint Task Force Leon Kilat and some mayors, the military disclosed vital information that would aid local officials in their target-hardening measures.
The briefing included information such as timeline of events that led to the Inabanga encounter, suspected Abu Sayyaf leaders, sample pictures of the “jungkong” boat the bandits normally use, the route that the group led by Abu Sayyaf leader Muammar Askali, alias Abu Rami, took from Sulu to Inabanga, Bohol, possible and vulnerable target areas, the sighting of another of the group’s sub-leader, Alhabisi Misaya recently in the region, and many other essential information.
The group led by Abu Rami, who was one of those killed in the Inabanga encounter, took only more than three days to reach Bohol since it departed Indanan, Sulu on April.
The group made a quick stop over in Lazi, Siquijor before it went to Bohol.
While the police and military already thwarted possible terror acts/kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf in Bohol, PNP and AFP officials said there was a likelihood that other members of the group would carry out terrorist activities in the region.
In the same briefing, recommendations were made to strengthen and reinforce target-hardening measures to prevent a repeat of the Inabanga, Bohol incident here.
Topping the list of recommendations is the “adopt a whole government approach” to combat terrorism, which Governor Degamo reiterated to the mayors present in the security briefing and to all the other stakeholders.
The cooperation of the local government units, even down to the barangays, was stressed.
“I am calling, especially the people living in the coastal communities to report doubtful or unusual activity to the authorities immediately,” Degamo said.
Still, he said, there was no reason for the public to panic.
For his part, Taliño said the alleged sightings of armed men in Negros Oriental and Siquijor were still subject for confirmation.
While Negros Oriental is not under his jurisdiction because it belongs to the Negros Island Region (PNP Region 18 Office), he said the province is covered by an inter-agency security plan in Central Visayas. (PNA/PN)
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