Wednesday, August 08, 2007 Security heightened in metro city after arrest of Pinoy JI member
TAGUIG City Mayor Freddie Tinga on Tuesday ordered stepped-up security measures in the city following the arrest of an alleged terrorist who reportedly has links with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) during a raid in Maharlika Village in this city.
Particular attention will be given to government installations and offices, shopping malls, bus terminals and other places where people tend to congregate, he added.
Kaharuddin Usman Talib was arrested by combined operatives of the Taguig police, Southern Police District (SPD), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp in Maharlika Village, thus preempting a plot to bomb shopping malls and other places in Metro Manila.
Seized from Talib’s possession were improvised explosive devices and other paraphernalia.
SPD director Roberto Rosales said the group were also planning to launch simultaneous attacks in the cities of Tacurong, Koronadal, General Santos and Davao.
“One arrest does not mean the problem is solved. The situation requires vigilance on our part, as well as being pro-active in our anti-terrorist measures,” Tinga said.
He appealed to the public for more help in providing authorities with information regarding the presence of criminals and suspected terrorists in their localities.
Taguig City Police Director Alfred Corpuz said they have already intensified police visibility in public areas as well as intelligence-gathering operations to preempt any terrorist attack.
The police, he added are conducting security surveys in the city’s vital installations and are constantly in touch with various sectors for information that will lead to the arrest of suspected terrorists.
Meanwhile, Tinga and Vice Mayor George Elias also appealed for cooperation from leaders of the Muslim community in Maharlika Village. (AH/Sunnex)
