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Monday, August 22, 2005
Mayor on bomb scare: Why Oro?
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE reports on 10 Indonesian suicide bombers and five Abu Sayyaf terrorists being on the island and planning to bomb "cities in Mindanao, particularly Cagayan de Cro city", are contained in separate intelligence network documents, the military disclosed Sunday.
Cagayan de Oro city Mayor Vicente Emano is baffled as to why the terrorists are planning to target his city when all have been given the "equal treatment."
Emano also appealed to the town mayors in Misamis Oriental and other nearby provinces to conduct checkpoints on their own respective areas to make sure the terrorists are blocked even from the outside of Cagayan de Oro city.
Armed Forces' 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Alexis Bravo told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that there are two intelligence reports regarding the assault plans of these Indonesian and Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
"This is not to alarm the public but to appeal to them to be more understanding when it comes to our security checks and for them to be vigilant always," he said. "This is also to inform these terrorists that we are fully aware of their plans."
Bravo said the intelligence report concerning the 10 Indonesian terrorists includes how they also plan not just to conduct terrorist activities but also to go around and gather intelligence information.
"Mo-apil kini sila sa public tuyok-tuyok unya mag-costume parehas sa uban natong mga brother Muslims," he said.
The intelligence report states that 10 suicide bombers from Indonesia are suspected to be here in the country and some of them are in Mindanao.
"They could be trying to acquire explosives for attacks in the country," the report sent to this paper reads.
In particular
Earlier, a similar report was made by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales who disclosed how the information on this threat was passed to security officials who accompanied President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a visit to Manila last June.
He even said that at least one other Asian country has issued the same warning but the security executive did not identify which country.
Gonzales nevertheless said: "We are informed that up to 10 Indonesians may have crossed the border and are now in the country," said Gonzales. "There is an effort to acquire materials and position personnel."
Already, Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and the League of Mayors in the Philippines-Misamis Oriental (LMP-MisOr) president and Tagoloan Mayor Yevygeny "Bambi" Emano have laid some ground rules to help "quell" the threat to the province.
Bravo said they also received a recent report last Friday that five Abu Sayyaf members are out to bomb some key cities in Mindanao.
He quoted the separate intelligence report that these Abu Sayyaf terrorist targets include "most cities in Mindanao particularly Cagayan de Oro City."
"We still don't know what are the other cities they are targeting but the report specifically states in particular Cagayan de Oro," he said.
Fortified
Meanwhile, Emano said he could not fully understand why these terrorists are targeting his city in particular.
He said he and all the residents here have been trying their best to make sure everyone is given equal treatment.
"Ang tanan gapaningkamot man ug wala man siguro'y napihig diri sa atong syudad," he said.
The mayor said he has also received reports that City Hall, the seat of the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, is part of the target plans of these terrorists.
Because of this, he said he has already ordered some of his guards to tighten the security measures being implemented at the City Hall building and perimeters.
Emano is also appealing to the town mayors all over Misamis Oriental and other nearby provinces to strengthen the checkpoints on their own respective areas.
"Hinaut lang unta nga ang mga mayores sa mga probinsya magahimo pud sila ug ilang checkpoints para dili diretso makasulod diri sa atong syudad ang mga terrorista," he said over dxIF Bombo Radyo.
Moreno earlier said, "We are doing everything to quell any terrorist threat as these are things we cannot really determine even London and the USA have been hit by these attacks."
"We have now fortified our defenses and I am confident that our police and military can handle everything professionally."
The younger Emano who is also the mayor of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental has also agreed with his fellow mayors from the other towns to conduct checkpoints themselves aside from those being initiated by the police in their areas.
face="Verdana">(August 22, 2005 issue)
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