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Friday, February 22, 2008
Military: More JI men still in Region 11
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Despite the recent arrest of an Indonesian national suspected of being a member of the international terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Davao Region is still not safe from terrorist threats.
This after military officials confirmed there are more JI operatives in the Davao Region who are out to pursue the earlier plan of arrested terror suspect Mohamad Baehaqi to bomb beach resorts in the Island Garden City of Samal and "urban areas in Region 11 (Davao Region)."
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Lt. Col. Rolando Bautista of the Army's 10th Infantry Division said there are reports that JI members are operating in Mindanao, but their location "cannot be pinpointed because they are very mobile."
"It is a common knowledge that they (JI members) will conduct terrorist activities in different target areas wherein some urban areas in Region 11 (Davao Region) are included. As long as we have not captured all of them and they can freely move around in Mindanao, the threat of a terrorist attack is very probable," he said.
He said military and police forces have strengthened information gathering "to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their plans."
A high-ranking military official in the region, who requested anonymity, also said "it is a fact" that JI operatives usually "visit" the Davao Region.
The official said though that in the past, JI operatives were just passing through and not necessarily in the area to conduct atrocities.
It was learned that Baehaqi was seen in the City of Mati days before his arrest in Barangay Piso in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental. Unconfirmed reports showed Baehaqi could have been planning to disrupt the just concluded Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa).
The official said that they are continuously monitoring the movements of other suspected JI operatives in the region who are all foreign nationals. He urged the public to report immediately to authorities any foreigner they see in their area especially those who could not speak the local dialects.
Army 10th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Benito de Leon, meanwhile, refused to confirm or deny the information, saying he "can't disclose (anything) at this time due to security implications."
"But it's always a possibility that we don't take for granted. Suffice to say that our area is visited by such personalities," de Leon said.
Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Major Rodrigo Sosmeña admitted that Baehaqi's terror plan could be pursued by other JI members in the nearby regions.
"Some JI members are just hiding in Central Mindanao, so it is possible that they will pursue the terror plan despite the arrest of Baehaqi," Sosmeña said.
The source said JI terrorists usually take refuge in areas where there are known presence of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. Proof of this, he said, was the arrest of an alleged MILF member along with Baehaqi in Banaybanay last February 17.
Mohar Abaiz Generoso admitted being a member of the MILF in a television interview. Mohar was arrested along with his father Kabaiza and Baehaqi.
Baehaqi was transported to the military's general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo while the Generosos were charged with illegal possession of firearm and explosives and for obstruction of justice.
MILF military spokesman Eid Kabalu however said Mohar Abaiz Generoso left their organization five years ago and thus was no longer a member of the MILF upon his arrest.
Authorities in the region meanwhile raised the alert level especially in the Igacos area. Military and police are strictly implementing tight security in and around the island. Resort owners have also beefed up security measures in their respective areas. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (February 22, 2008 issue)
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