Full alert vs. ISIS remains

From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 10): Full alert vs. ISIS remains

The Bacolod City Police Office is still not discounting the possibility of an ISIS spillover and remains on full alertagainst possible threats or terroristic activities.

“Because of what happened in Mindanao, we can’t discount the possibility that the ISIS will find another place or another city to launch their evil intentions,” Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, BCPO officer-in-charge, said yesterday.

The military had admitted that remnants of the ISIS-inspired Maute Group are trying to revive their forces after their losses in the Marawi siege last year.

Two alleged high-profile ISIS-affiliated personalities Tunisian Fehmi Lassoued and Maute Group Sub-leader Nasser Lomondot were arrested in Metro Manila, last month, a CNN Philippines report said.

The intelligence community, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippinesare in coordination to monitor the actual happenings and prevent any atrocities like what happened in Marawi City, Ebreo said.

“Whatever information the intelligence units are gathering, we are having a fusion,” he said.

A profiling is being done to keep track of people from Marawi and nearby areas in Mindanao, who arrived in the Western Visayas, including Bacolod, he said.

The threat of terrorism is usually noted in areas withmany touristsor where they can launch even small terroristic activities as long as it can gain mileage and attention, Ebreo said.

“The threat is normal, but it does not mean that there is an eminent one” he said.

Still the police are not lowering their guards, Ebreo added.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/March/10/topstory2.htm