Anti-terror, anti-kidnapping workshop set for Negros Oriental’s Task Force Leon Kilat

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 1): Anti-terror, anti-kidnapping workshop set for Negros Oriental’s Task Force Leon Kilat

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has confirmed the reactivation of the composite Task Force Leon Kilat with its members scheduled for a training/workshop on anti-kidnapping and anti-terrorism next week.

This came following fresh intelligence reports of world-renowned dive destination Apo Island off the coast of Dauin, Negros Oriental as a potential target by the kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf.

But Gov. Degamo late Tuesday afternoon downplayed the report, saying that the threat has always been there and “we just have to be on our guard”.

He said it is, indeed, a concern, but “we will isolate the Abu Sayyaf so as not to enter our territory”.

Degamo, in an interview with reporters, said he has a “strong message” for the Abu Sayyaf, a notorious kidnap-for-ransom group that had recently beheaded a German national hostage.

“Do not come to Negros Oriental. Because (if you do) something will happen to you”, the governor said.

Degamo confirmed having held a meeting Tuesday morning with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to discuss the latest terror threat report following the reactivation of Task Force Leon Kilat.

He convened the task force to discuss security measures and identify the respective roles and responsibilities of each member-group as well as other operational matters.

The workshop is scheduled on March 7 and 8 and will be spearheaded by the AFP’s Central Command (CentCom) based in Cebu City, said Gov. Degamo.

According to the governor, the Task Force Leon Kilat’s security plan will be “connected” or similarly patterned after that of a regional anti-terror task force.

Task Force Leon Kilat members include the provincial government, the Philippine Army, the PNP, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Maritime Police and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, among others, Degamo said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=968140