Region 7 security council to meet next week to discuss Abu Sayyaf threat; barangay intelligence networks on alert

CEBU GOVERNOR Hilario P. Davide III will convene the Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Visayas (RPOC 7) next week to discuss measures against the threat of the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf Group. Mr. Davide, chairman of RPOC 7, said the meeting has been set after this week’s trade minister’s meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bohol to ensure the attendance of the region’s other governors and top police and military officials. Mr. Davide, in a statement, said the presence of Bohol Gov. Edgardo M. Chatto “is expected to provide important insights in dealing with terror threats following the thwarted entry by the Abu Sayyaf members in Inabanga, Bohol last April 11.” Meanwhile, Cebu Vice-Governor Agnes A. Magpale called on all barangay chairmen in the province to activate their Barangay Intelligence Network, especially the coastal villages, to help thwart the entry of the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf who are still on the run. “Residents could easily identify new faces who will enter their barangays. If they are the ones reporting to us through the Barangay Intelligence Network, chances are high that their information can be reliable. They are the best source of information,” Ms. Magpale said in a media forum Tuesday.