SECURITY forces in Mindanao heightened their security measures to prevent another bombing attack after reports that a Daesh-inspired terrorist group is planning to sow terror in other areas following the twin bombings on Sunday, September 16, in General Santos City and Midsayap, North Cotabato.
“It has been monitored that this terror group will launch bombing attacks in the urban centers as part of their retaliations,” Captain Ervin Encinas of the 6th Infantry Division (ID) Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) said, pertaining to the Abu Torayfie Group operating in Maguindanao.
He added that such areas are the urban centers of North Cotabato, Cotabato City, and Sultan Kudarat.
Asked whether the attack was the group’s way of introducing themselves as a terrorist group, Encinas said that this group has been formed first quarter last year. They were previously part of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) before they separated.
“Matagal na yan nagpakilala last year pa. Part of their retaliation after noong malaking setback nila, and to sow terror at nakakuha [sila] ng financial support from international terror group,” Encinas said.
On September 16, a blast occurred in Midsayap, North Cotabato province at around 7:10 p.m. The bomb exploded at Theresa's Place Videoke Bar in Poblacion 4, Midsayap, North Cotabato after the joint patrol of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
Fortunately, no one was hurt during the explosion since there were no people when it blasted.
Encias said the materials used included an aluminum flash powder placed in a plastic container with cell phone, 9 voltz battery and concrete nails as fragmentation concealed in a jersey shirt.
Based on local accounts, there were three unidentified suspects who ordered softdrinks and later left the area leaving the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Joint Task Force Central Commander Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana condemned the attack, pointing that Abu Torayfie group was behind the bombing.
“The Daesh-inspired Abu Torayfie Group was responsible for the attack as they are known to be peace spoilers and to sow terror in the community," Sobejana said.
In an interview with North Cotabato Province Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza Sunday evening, she urged the public’s cooperation in addressing these atrocities, underscoring that security is everybody’s concern.
“In North Cotabato, our orientation is that peace and security is everybody’s concern not only of the law enforcers," Taliño-Mendoza said, asking the municipalities, city down to barangay level to support the crusade towards peace.
The governor did not also discount possibilities of more attacks, thus, directing all security forces to be on high alert status as to not give the lawless group an opportunity to succeed. She also asked the public to voluntarily submit themselves at checkpoints.
“You have to understand na ang criminal, o ang terorista nakabantay lang kanus-a ka maglu-ag so lugi gyud ang gobyerno, lugi mi sa gobyerno sa LGU so dili jud namo pwede luagan. Daghan naman information na naga-abot na mao ni na provinces, mao ni nga cities so wala gyud mi nagluag. Hopefuly ma maintain lang (The terrorist group is just waiting for us to loosen our security so we never let our guard down)," she added.