Visayas terrorists-free: AFP

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 15): Visayas terrorists-free: AFP

The whole Visayas remains peaceful with no imminent threat from the violent extremist groups from Mindanao, Lt. Gen. Oscar Lactao, commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, said yesterday.
But the AFP Central Command continues to exert more efforts in implementing target hardening measures, toprevent the possible spread of terrorism in the Visayas, considering its proximity to the Mindanao conflict zone.

It was a mission accomplished for the AFP Central Command when they were able to neutralize the attempt of Abu Sayyaf bandits to expand their operations to Bohol two months ago.

But Lactao said “It would have been better if we had prevented them from securing a foothold in our peaceful communities”.

Peace advocate groups in Negros Occidental, in tandem with other peace stakeholders, joined the efforts of the security sector in educating Negrenses on violent extremism, by holding a forum on “ Religious Extremism in Contemporary Philippines” yesterday in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Lactao said the forum was aimed at understanding violent extremism, and why it exists.

“If you understand it, you will be able to prevent it, especially in vulnerable communities. At the same time, prepare, and if will happen to us, respond to it appropriately”. he added.

The Visayan Sea Safety and Security Inter-Agency Task force headed by Lactao was recently organized to prevent the spread of terrorism and related activities in Central Philippines, on top of related security task groups created in the Visayas provinces.

Lactao, who previously served as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros, prepared a whole-nation approach in addressing security threats in Visayas, stressing that “Everybody has a shared responsibility” in preventing the spread of terrorism.

During the forum, Prof. AlihAiyub, regional secretary general of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines discussed “Violent Extremism and Terrorism: Preventing and Confronting it from the Ulama Perspective”, while Humanitarian Practitioner and Peace Worker Milet Mendoza spoke on “Understanding the Islamist Extremist's Psyche”. They were joined by Ustadz Najeeb Razul, a Muslim elder in Cebu.

Visayas remains at level 2 in terrorist threat, and is a probable target area, due to its proximity to Mindanao, but this is not likely, as of now, AFP Central Command said.

But still the Central Command in encouraging the public to be vigilant in detecting, deterring and defusing any terror plan inthe Visayas.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/August/15/topstory5.htm