Security beefed up amid 'plan' to rescue jailed MNLFs

From ABS-CBN (Dec 17): Security beefed up amid 'plan' to rescue jailed MNLFs

Authorities at the San Ramon Penal Farm in this city have beefed up security amid alleged plans to rescue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels under Nur Misuari.

Almost 300 suspected MNLF rebels are detained at the facility after they were arrested following the siege on September 9.

Supt. Rey Soledad of the Regional Public Safety Battalion – Region 9 explained that they have to be very strict in maintaining the security in the facility following threats of an alleged plan of the MNLF to again conduct another attack or rescue their jailed comrades.

A letter intercepted by the jail authorities confirmed the suspicions of the police.

The letter stated that by Thursday, its supposed recipient will already be able to go home.

Soledad refused to give further details about the letter.

Councilor Elong Natividad, Peace and Order committee chair of the City Council, earlier admitted that the possible second attack by the MNLF was discussed during a recent council meeting.

He said he had called on the authorities to beef up security in the coastal areas, as well as areas that could possibly serve as the armed group's entry points.

Harassment

Meanwhile, a team from the Regional Human Rights Commission of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RHRC – ARMM) accused Soledad of threatening them during their visit to the facility.

Atty. Edy Lynn Santiago, head of the RHRC-ARMM said their team visited their clients at the penal colony on Friday morning, bringing with them some goods that were turned over to them by the relatives of the detained rebels.

However, the human rights workers were surprised when Soledad approached and reprimanded them for allegedly taking pictures of the gate of the Minimum Detention facility and its perimeters.

Santiago said there seemed to be a misudernstanding as their team only took one picture of the goods against the gate of the minimum detention facility.

"We are very well aware of the security protocols," Santiago said.

Santiago's team added that Soledad accused them of putting the security of the penal facility at risk. Santiago claimed Soledad told his team,"Uunahan na namin kayo, papatayin namin kayo."

Soledad denied these allegations and said BJMP personnel saw one of the members of the team taking several pictures, while allegedly trying to hide behind their vehicle.

Soledad said that upon the instruction of Chief Supt Juanito Vaño Jr, police director of Region 9, he had the pictures deleted from the camera of the team and had a police personnel escort the team to the police station.

"Isang pulis lang ang pinadala dito ng PS-9, nakasakay sa motorsiklo niya, Soledad said. "Sumakay sila sa sasakyan nila at sumunod lang ang pulis sa likod nila papuntang police station. So paanong sasabihin nila na they were heralded to the police station?"
Santiago meanwhile said, they are keen on filing a case of threat and illegal arrest against Soledad.

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