Security forces in CV remain vigilant vs terrorism

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 25, 2020): Security forces in CV remain vigilant vs terrorism (By Fayette C. Riñen)

CEBU, Nov. 25 (PIA) -- Security forces in the region remain vigilant, as Central Visayas is a valuable target to terrorist groups whether for recruitment or attacks.

Both the police and military organizations continue to implement security measures to prevent any possible terror strikes.

This was learned during the presentation on the Regional Security Situation of Central Visayas by the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA-7).

Although there are no monitored radical Islamic organizations operating in the region, terrorism continues to be a major security concern in Central Visayas, according to the same NICA-7 presentation.

Radicalism, however, is not espoused in ​Madrasahs in the region as the Muslim communities continue to be cooperative.

In Central Visayas, armed conflict is concentrated in Negros Oriental, but Cebu remains as the hub for recruitment and mass mobilizations of the communist terrorist groups (CTG), the NICA-7 highlighted.

But with the ongoing counterinsurgency operations and pouring of government programs, especially in affected areas in Negro Oriental, the CTG have diffused its forces to neighboring areas like Bohol.

According to NICA-7, the CTG wants to recover their mass base in Bohol, but added that the CTG forces in Bohol will be more cautious of their movements to avoid frontal engagements.

The CTG is also constrained amid the string of arrests and neutralizations of their leaders and the cases filed against them, while government development efforts particularly in affected areas continue to contribute further public awareness about the CTG and its devious schemes.

In order to disrupt and paralyze CTG activities and drain their financial resources, the NICA-7 recommended that intensified legal action be taken against CTG leaders and front organizations, in as much as the efforts of the Regional Task Force 7 on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF7-ELCAC) be consistent and even intensified.

Amid the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CTG turned to social media platforms to gain leverage on propaganda.

But the RTF7-ELCAC effort continues to affect them, the NICA-7 reported.

Overall assessment given by NICA-7 stated that Central Visayas remains free from the threat of terrorism, which can be attributed to the continued sharing of information among intelligence units and the vigilance of the public sector. (fcr/PIA7)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1060053