Various law enforcement agencies in Negros Oriental on Thursday went on high alert due to an unverified plot allegedly by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to carry out some kidnapping activities in the city.
Col. Allan Martin, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade
of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, confirmed that he
and other law enforcers had received similar text messages purportedly from the
intelligence community regarding the said “terror plot” and the “movement” of
members of the terrorist group.
However, he cautioned against circulating the said text
messages which he emphasized were unverified, so as not to cause undue alarm
especially among tourists visiting the province.
Still, whether it is true or not, the military official
assured that they are prepared all the time to confront and address any
security threat such as this. In fact, this could well be a test case for the
newly-formed Joint Task Force headed by Governor Roel Degamo for a
well-coordinated response by all law enforcement agencies involved.
One of the text messages supposedly from the intelligence
community disclosed “the group of Muamar Askali with about 10 armed followers
(was) seen in the municipality
of Omar
The text message further read that the group was planning to
conduct kidnapping activity in Dumaguete, and that they will travel about “800
osuk bato” (kilometer in the Tausug dialect) and will depart anytime from the
above-mentioned place in Sulu.
Some lines in the same text message were in the Tausug
dialect which appeared to be discussing the distance to Dumaguete and the
supposed target of the armed men.
Another text message mentioned the exact information which
was differently worded and coming from another intelligence source.
With this, Col. Martin disclosed that all law enforcement
agencies are now being alerted to step up security particularly in the southern
portion of Negros Oriental where majority of the resorts can be found.
In the case of the Philippine Army, he said they have
already identified areas where they will deploy personnel, in coordination with
the Philippine National Police (PNP) as “the Army could not saturate the whole
coastline”.
“We are not just guarding Dumaguete. We will be guarding the
whole coastline in the southern tip of Negros Island
Col. Martin said they will also be coordinating with the
Philippine Navy as to what areas they will be deployed.
Resort owners were also summoned and informed of the
supposed kidnapping plot for them to be extra vigilant in securing their
respective premises.
One resort owner in Dauin, Negros Oriental has also reported
that a black sedan was observed to have arrived at the vicinity of his resort
three times but nobody had alighted from the car.
Sr. Supt. Dionard Carlos, OIC provincial police director,
said he has already alerted all the police chiefs in the province, while the
Dumaguete police chief, Supt. Jovito Atanacio, said he has also alerted his
men, especially those in the intelligence section.
Col. Martin disclosed that the law enforcers are stepping up
their security measures in the southern coast of the province and not quite so
in the wharves, ports and airports.
The Dumaguete Coast Guard station, headed by Lt. Junior
Grade Jude Greannata could not be contacted for comment as to whether they
would also be patrolling the shores of Negros Oriental.
“We will be harnessing all other agencies to act on this”,
said Col. Martin.
All security forces in Negros Oriental are attending a
two-day workshop set on Thursday and Friday as part of the creation of the
Joint Task Force to define the roles of each agency in the different task
groups on how to respond to or address various threat groups and/or situations,
he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=802701
Negros Oriental is outside the traditional operational area of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
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