‘Abu Sayyaf in Cebu’ not confirmed

Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7 Chief Julian Entoma said the alleged six members of Abu Sayyaf group, reportedly led by sub-commander Al Habsi Misaya, are not in the region He said they received an intelligence report from PRO 9 that some members o

CEBU and the other provinces in Central Visayas are free from terrorists, police said.

Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7 Chief Julian Entoma said the alleged six members of Abu Sayyaf group, reportedly led by sub-commander Al Habsi Misaya, are not in the region.

He said the bandits are staying put in southern Mindanao.

“Negative ang presence sa group diri sa Central Visayas,” said Entoma. “Wala gyod na ma- confirm (It wasn’t confirmed).”

The police official said they coordinated with the Muslim communities in Cebu and their leaders told them they did not find Misaya in their groups.

“Posible miagi o kapareha niya og dagway (It could just be a lookalike),” he said.

Entoma said the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, however, are still on full alert.

He said they have no intention of scaring the public, adding that they want to ensure the peace and safety of the region.

He said they received an intelligence report from PRO 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) that some members of the group were sighted in Dapitan City and they boarded a boat toward Dumaguete City, Negros before traveling to Cebu.

The bandits reportedly aimed at kidnapping prominent personalities in Central Visayas, but the report proved wrong.

New faces

For his part, Rashid Nalos of Islamic Propagation Society of Cebu (IPSC), said there are new faces, but these are businesspersons.

Their leader, Muhammad Arafat Lozano, told him there are no terrorist members among their ranks.

Nalos said they are cooperative with the police and military because they want peace in the region.

“Daghan tag mga bag-o tungod sa mga businessman, pero dili nato madetermine kon kinsa sila o unsa sila (We have new faces in our group, mostly businessmen, but we can’t determine who or what they are). Amo nang icheck ug double check,” said Nalos, IPSC’s board of trustees member.

The Muslim official said the traders are open in their business dealings and some of them are selling dry goods at public markets.