AUTHORITIES in the region have intensified watch against terrorists by boosting border control operations following the death of top extremists Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute on Monday in Marawi City.
The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Regional Office (PRO) XI directed its subordinate units to heighten operations to prevent atrocities by different terror groups.
In a memorandum issued yesterday, the PRO also directed provincial and city offices to be “more vigilant and enhance coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts through the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) mechanism.”
Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum, director of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said they maintained to place the city under terror alert level three, which has been effective since the declaration of Martial Law on May 23 for the entire Mindanao.
This means, Tagum said, that the terror threat level is still high.
Under alert level three, Tagum told the TIMES in a text message that there exists “imminent threat of terrorist and communist attack, on progress attack of terrorists and communist rebels and combat operations or hot operations on these threats.”
The AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) also directed its subordinate units to raise the alert level to prevent retaliation from the rebel groups after the death of the top extremists.
The EastMincom is also strengthening the borders in Balut Island in the southern tip of the region in Sarangani town, Davao Occidental and Cape San Agustin in the western tip of the region in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental to ensure that sympathizers would not pass through the area in Celebes Sea.
EastMincom spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey, in an interview yesterday at Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Camp Panacan, said they received directive to intensify the security operations in the region.
“Recently there was a signing of agreement on the strengthening of the borders,” he said.
An Inter-Agency Border Security Coordinating Council in Region XI was operationalized after a memorandum of understanding was signed by member agencies on Sept. 15 at Naval Station Felix Apolinario.
Balagtey said they are also doing advocacy awareness so they can monitor any possible entry of terrorists.
Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Eastmincom commander, said in a statement that they needed to strengthen border security as a pro-active measure to prevent the terrorists from using it as their mobility corridor.
Guerrero urged for the continuous support from the different stakeholders to prevent terrorism attack in the region.
“We recognize the importance of the support coming from the populace. We therefore ask everyone to be vigilant and to report to the authorities any suspicious activities in their respective communities,” Guerrero said.
Martial Law stays
Despite the fall of the top extremist leader, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Martial Law will remain in effect in Mindanao
“No, we are not talking about lifting Martial Law yet, tingnan pa natin, we are only looking in the immediate aftermath of the killing of these two leaders, we may, sabi ko nga we may be lifting, I mean announcing the cessation of hostilities within this week and then after that we will find out,” Lorenzana told reporters during a press conference as reported by the Philippine News Agency.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 216 on May 23 declaring Martial Law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. This was a result of the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City, which is still ongoing and is subject to military operations.
The DND chief said they had yet to assess the situation in order for them to determine whether they can recommend the lifting of Martial Law to President Duterte.
“We will find out, we will assess the entire Mindanao if there is a need to recommend to the President the lifting of Martial Law,” he noted.
When asked on the possible retaliation of Maute remnants, Lorenzana said “We are prepared, our troops are prepared, alam naman natin that it is the modus operandi of the enemy to make, to create diversion dito, diversion dyan, retaliation din, so our troops are prepared.”
As of Monday, the number of slain Maute terrorists was placed at 822. The government suffered 162 fatalities.
In a memorandum issued yesterday, the PRO also directed provincial and city offices to be “more vigilant and enhance coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts through the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) mechanism.”
Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum, director of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said they maintained to place the city under terror alert level three, which has been effective since the declaration of Martial Law on May 23 for the entire Mindanao.
This means, Tagum said, that the terror threat level is still high.
Under alert level three, Tagum told the TIMES in a text message that there exists “imminent threat of terrorist and communist attack, on progress attack of terrorists and communist rebels and combat operations or hot operations on these threats.”
The AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) also directed its subordinate units to raise the alert level to prevent retaliation from the rebel groups after the death of the top extremists.
The EastMincom is also strengthening the borders in Balut Island in the southern tip of the region in Sarangani town, Davao Occidental and Cape San Agustin in the western tip of the region in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental to ensure that sympathizers would not pass through the area in Celebes Sea.
EastMincom spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey, in an interview yesterday at Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Camp Panacan, said they received directive to intensify the security operations in the region.
“Recently there was a signing of agreement on the strengthening of the borders,” he said.
An Inter-Agency Border Security Coordinating Council in Region XI was operationalized after a memorandum of understanding was signed by member agencies on Sept. 15 at Naval Station Felix Apolinario.
Balagtey said they are also doing advocacy awareness so they can monitor any possible entry of terrorists.
Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Eastmincom commander, said in a statement that they needed to strengthen border security as a pro-active measure to prevent the terrorists from using it as their mobility corridor.
Guerrero urged for the continuous support from the different stakeholders to prevent terrorism attack in the region.
“We recognize the importance of the support coming from the populace. We therefore ask everyone to be vigilant and to report to the authorities any suspicious activities in their respective communities,” Guerrero said.
Martial Law stays
Despite the fall of the top extremist leader, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Martial Law will remain in effect in Mindanao
“No, we are not talking about lifting Martial Law yet, tingnan pa natin, we are only looking in the immediate aftermath of the killing of these two leaders, we may, sabi ko nga we may be lifting, I mean announcing the cessation of hostilities within this week and then after that we will find out,” Lorenzana told reporters during a press conference as reported by the Philippine News Agency.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 216 on May 23 declaring Martial Law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. This was a result of the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City, which is still ongoing and is subject to military operations.
The DND chief said they had yet to assess the situation in order for them to determine whether they can recommend the lifting of Martial Law to President Duterte.
“We will find out, we will assess the entire Mindanao if there is a need to recommend to the President the lifting of Martial Law,” he noted.
When asked on the possible retaliation of Maute remnants, Lorenzana said “We are prepared, our troops are prepared, alam naman natin that it is the modus operandi of the enemy to make, to create diversion dito, diversion dyan, retaliation din, so our troops are prepared.”
As of Monday, the number of slain Maute terrorists was placed at 822. The government suffered 162 fatalities.
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