PNP, AFP move to preempt more terror attacks in Mindanao ahead of BARMM plebiscite
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have intensified their operations to preempt the possible plans of some groups to sabotage the plebiscite for the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through attacks that include bombing activities.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said “everything is possible when it comes to threat on the security of Mindanao,” what with the bombing in Isulan town of Sultan Kudarat that left three people dead and
more than 30 others injured.
“What we can do only is to implement preemptive measures,” said Albayalde.
Fears were raised that some groups may sabotage the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after the Isulan bombing.
Some Muslim groups are opposing any form of peace agreement and are instead pushing for independence while some groups are opposing the inclusion of their communities to the BARMM.
Part of the security measures, according to Albayalde, is to strengthen the intelligence in Mindanao and strategic deployment of policemen to reduce the capability of some groups to carry out attacks.
“And of course, we have to have the active participation of the community because they should be our eyes and ears especially in critical areas,” said Albayalde.
Police forces in Mindanao are under highest security alert status while those in Metro Manila are placed under heightened alert after the Isulan bombing.
Joint monitoring
The PNP and AFP have inked an agreement that aims to monitor the activities of local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao amid security threats in the region.
Albayalde and AFP Chief of Staff, General Carlito Galvez Jr. signed recently the Joint Letter Directive that serves as the implementing order on the monitoring of local chief executives in Mindanao as contained in Martial Law Instructions No. 1 issued by Martial Law Administrator and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
"The PNP sustains responsiveness to do its mission to serve and protect the Filipino people. Police and military efforts may have been bolstered with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao but we must oversee [the] situations of our fellow Mindanaoans in the light of aggressive violence that may victimize [the] lives of innocents," Albayalde said.
According to the PNP, the Joint Letter Directive seeks to establish a monitoring system, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, "to effectively assist the regional and provincial governors in Mindanao."
"It will also provide a system to monitor and assess the operationalization of LGU councils and committees; and monitor [the] participation of local officials in all programs, activities and projects of these LGU councils and committees," the PNP said.
The interaction of local officials with their constituents will also be monitored to determine "if they are present and are discharging their official functions in their localities, as well as supervising their various executive departments in the implementation of government programs and services for the benefit of their constituents."
The Joint Letter Directive was signed as the National joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) convened at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo with Albayalde and Galvez, co-chairmen, presiding over the meeting.
Despite being under the martial law, several security threats are continuously being monitored by state security forces in the southern part of the country.
Just last Tuesday, August 28, a man believed to be part of the Abu Turaife group, a threat group which pledged allegiance to Islamic State (ISIS), slipped past security and detonated an improvised explosive device in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat during a town festival that killed three people and wounded 36 others.
Prior to that, an IED also went off in a military checkpoint in Lamitan, Basilan last July 31 which claimed the lives of 10 people and injured nine others.