Sunday, May 11, 2008 New security tack observed in GenSan
AUTHORITIES have changed their security tack in General Santos City to fight against terrorist and extortion groups, an official said.
Army Colonel Benito de Leon, chief of the Joint Task Force GenSan, said they removed the stationary security checkpoints on key entry points to the city so that terrorists "could not predict" their movements.
He said they conduct spot security checks on various parts of the city dubbed as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines."
De Leon said they are particularly on the look out for attempts from the extortion group Al Khobar, which has been blamed for various deadly attacks in south and central Mindanao in the last few years.
In January, authorities blamed Al Khobar for the explosion outside the facility of Philbest Canning Corp., owned by local fishing magnate Rodrigo E. Rivera Sr.
The blast left at least four people dead and 27 others injured.
Based on the military's intelligence monitoring, Mr. de Leon said the Al Khobar has recently finished the training of 20 new members for its "Special Operations Group". They will be dispatched to sabotage business establishments who will not heed their demands.
The military official appealed to the residents to help them secure the area by reporting suspicious individuals. (BSS)
