Full alert vs. terror plots

Cities and other urban centers in Region-12 are in full or heightened alert with security measures in place to thwart anew terror attempts by armed groups or bandit cells out to destabilize peace and order and inflict injuries to the populace and damage to properties or infrastructures.

In Cotabato City, Vice Mayor Graham NazerDumama, in an interview by this community paper, said the campaign against terrorism such as bomb threats is part of the “inclusives” in the Local Anti-Criminality Plan or LACAP which the SangguniangPanlungsod lately approved or adopted upon request of the City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in an effort to further sustain and maintain peace and order.

The city also reactivated Task Force Kutawato, a contingent in the LACAP, as a beef-up force to security along with the Philippine National Police, elements from 6^th Infantry Division, and barangay auxiliary.

The city government of Kidapawan in North Cotabato has likewise stepped up security measures in its urban center against terror threats.

Following the  twin improvised explosive device  blast in  Tacurong  City on the evening of April 17,  Kidapawan  Mayor Joseph Evangelista  ordered the City Philippine National Police  Station and the  Public Safety Office to further intensify its bomb awareness campaign, “OplanPaalala,” especially  in the urban  center.

The bomb awareness  campaign that  took  off during the  celebration of the Holy Week has police patrol with  public announcement system  roaming around the city reminding the residents to be extra careful  and  be  vigilant  against terror threats.

Mayor Evangelista’s call for increased security measures also came after Kidapawan City figured in an intelligence report as one target of bombing plot.  The same report also named other cities in SOCCSKSARGEN Region as targets of the plot. 

Evangelista called on the public to take the threats seriously.

“Immediately  report  to  authorities  suspicious persons  and unattended bags in your villages and public places,” he said, advising them  to immediately keep a  distance from  suspected  improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Last April 17,  two  IEDs  exploded  at  the Dragon Mart along the national highway at Barangay New Isabela in  Tacurong  City in Sultan Kudarat province  and  wounded 15  persons:  threeArmy soldiers, three  police officers, and nine civilians.

A report from the Tacurong City PNP said thefirst IED exploded inside the comfort room  ofDragon Mart  at 6: 45 p.m. The second went off outside the store at 7:10 p.m. when emergency  responders  were already in the area.

Listed as  wounded in the incident report  were:LogenPresaldo, 42, AFP;  RamilGarde, AFP;  Alvin Jimenez, 44, AFP; DanicailaBallaran, 14, student, Barangay San Pablo, Tacurong City;  Reymart del Rosario, 21, student, BarangayCalean, Tacurong City;SaulsautoManoy, 47, CDRRMC;  Joseph Liba, 33, driver, Barangay San Pablo, Tacurong City;  Leo Cueva, 34, teacher, Tantangan, South Cotabato; Roger Bamo, 47, ambulance driver, Barangay New Isabela, Tacurong City;  P02 Gerard Martin San Pedro;  SPO2 Jasper Garcia; MichealPon; P01 EleazarSustiguer;  Ryan Omar Ali, 27, BarangayPoblacion, Tacurong City; and Richard Piñeda, 36, tinsmith , Barangay New Isabela, Tacurong City.

According to Sultan  Kudarat  Provincial Social  Welfare and Development Officer  Henry  Albano, the  provincial  government   extended  P10,000  aid to each of the  blast  victims while the  Department of Social  Welfare and Development and the  city government of Tacurong  foot the bill  for their  hospitalization.

In a separate interview, Superintendent Romeo Galgo, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-12, confirmed that “full alert”has been raised in all cities of Region-12 due to terror threat. 

Galgo said local Peace and Order Councils need to implement security measures to ensure the safety of their respective residents as police and military units prepare to respond to any contingency.

Cops arrest 2 with grenades

TACURONG CITY --- Police in Tacurong City arrested two men with hand grenades and handguns minutes after two blasts rocked this city that hurt at least 14 persons on Monday night of April 17.

On that night, the police initially reported that eight persons, including five soldiers and police officers, were wounded in the bomb attack.

The two, WarenGani and JohariGani, were on board a motorbike and are from Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao. Two mobile phones were also taken from them, which contain their photographs in fatigue uniform carrying firearms.

Senior Superintendent Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police provincial director, said the two claimed they are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The two were subjected to inquest and verificationof their Front membership.

Supiter said prior to the twin blasts at the Dragon Mart and Gasoline Station, a bomb scare was reported near St. John Learning Center along Ilang-Ilang Street, Barangay New Isabela at around 5:50 p.m.

"No bomb was found near the school," he said.

But at around 6:45 p.m., an explosion ripped the roof of the gas station's comfort room.

As police and Army bomb experts were conducting a post blast investigation, another improvised bomb exploded at around 7:10 p.m. in front of the gas station that damaged parked motorbikes and a vehicle.

"It was a well-planned bomb attack," Supiter said, adding that the bombs used were similar to previous bombings in the region.

Supiter identified the injured as bomb disposal team members S/Sgt. IpilPresaldo, S/Sgt. MenzoSalsalitoManoy, SPO2 Jasper Garcia, PO1 Martin San Pedro, and PO1 EleazarSustiguer, all from Tacurong City Police Station.

Also hurt were nine civilians who were customers of the resto bar.

Only a few remained in the hospital while others only sustained superficial wounds from cut nails used as shrapnel of the improvised explosive device. (DEDOGUILES, PIA-12 WITH REPORTS FROM LKOASAY, KIDAPAWAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE; PNA – COTABATO; & MINDANAO EXPOSE’)