MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Police and
military personnel as well as police force multiplier have been placed on
heightened alert here after reports have circulated that outlawed Moro bandits
were poised to attack this town, a police official said Thursday.
Superintendent Gilbert Tuzon, Midsayap police chief, said
the town's PNP personnel are backed by elements of the 40th Infantry Battalion
in securing the periphery of the most progressive municipality in North Cotabato ’s first district.
Tuzon said police and soldiers, backed by Barangay
Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) are already deployed in the villages near the
boundary of North Cotabato and Maguindanao
where the lawless group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is based.
"We have experienced harassment in the past and lives
and properties were lost. We are on triple red alert because of the
report," Tuzon told reporters.
"We have received very reliable information and we are
not taking chances," he said in a separate radio interview.
Midsayap has about seven villages situated in the borders
with Datu Piang and Kabuntalan towns, both in Maguindanao.
"These areas are vulnerable to harassment like in the
past, this time we are ready," Tuzon said, asking Midsayapenios to
cooperate and help the police secure the town.
"Cooperate with law enforcers, be alert, report any
suspicious persons or suspicious activities of persons not known to you in your
community," the police chief said.
Midsayap was repeatedly attacked by armed groups, holding as
hostages several persons in the past and subjected the town center in bombings.
With the history of previous attacks by armed groups from
adjacent villages in Maguindanao, the police had learned its lesson that
anytime lawless groups could strike.
With the holiday season around the corner, Midsayap’s
economic activities have increased it being the center of commerce and trade in
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According to Tuzon, police regularly conduct patrol around
the town center with foot patrol accompanying mobile cars roaming around.
When asked whether a curfew needs to be imposed, Tuzon said
it was no longer necessary at this time because there are enough police and
military personnel securing the first class municipality.
"We can prevent the lawless group from terrorizing us
if we all work together, cooperate with law enforcers and maintain
communication networks," Tuzon said.
The report about impending attacks was circulated through
text messages. Tuzon said it could be the work of pranksters but added that
with or without the report the Midsayap PNP had increased its security
preparations because of the yuletide season.
Midsayap Mayor Romeo Arania also directed all village
officials to implement localized security measures to thwart any
destabilization attempt.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=836397
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