No MILF elements in Iloilo – PNP-6 chief

ILOILO CITY—Philippine National Police ( PNP) Director for Western Visayas Chief Supt. Josephus Angan said there is no presence of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF) in Iloilo City.

“The MILF or any other extremist group is not operating here,” he emphasized, in reference to recent reports received by the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) and the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), indicating the alleged sighting of four member of the MILF in the region.

According to the unverified reports, four male MILF members arrived in Iloilo City from Cagayan de Oro City via a 2GO passenger ship last March 12.

The following day, both PRO-6 and the PA’s 3ID gave assurances that they will look into the reports and present an assessment briefing in the first quarter meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-6) in Iloilo City.

Law enforcement authorities here did not easily dismiss the claims as Western Visayas is gearing to host ministerial meetings of the 2015 AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

APEC meetings will be held in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province during the last week of April; Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan province in May; and in Iloilo City, Iloilo province on September and October.

“We are maintaining our vigilance and we will continue to take appropriate actions to address security threats,” Angan stressed.

“This is in line with our security preparations for the APEC meetings,” he added.