CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
BY MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG (Journalist On Site)
Terror threats in Bohol remain a clear and present danger here following the deaths of four Abu Sayyaf members who clashed with government troops Tuesday morning in Barangay Napo, Inabanga town, intelligence sources and military analysts have told The Bohol Tribune.
“Expect retaliation and expect the unexpected. Officials should not discount that fact,” according to a retired member of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP’s) Military Intelligence Groups (MIGs) who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The revelation came even as combined forces of the military and the police are still scouring the mountains of Inabanga and neighboring towns hunting the Abu Sayyaf bandits that infiltrated a remote community near a river in Napo, Inabanga. Napo, based on 2010 population census, has at least 730 inhabitants.
As this developed, Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto yesterday urged the Boholano people to “keep calm but vigilant.” (see separate story on front page)
Chatto said “our people should not let their guards down.”
“Kitang tanan magmabinantayon. Let us be united in defeating any threat to our peace,” the governor said.
At least six Abu Sayyaf members, led by Inabanga-born Joselito Melloria, have been confirmed to have survived the offensives launched by the military and the police early Tuesday morning. Three members of the Philippine Army and a police officer belonging to SWAT-Bohol were killed during the encounter.
Initial reports had indicated that there were five Abu Sayyaf members who were killed in the near day-long battle that started from Tuesday 6 a.m. and lasted until Wednesday 3 a.m., but an interview with Napo Barangay Captain Columbus Estoce confirmed that the two casualties, couple Constancio and Crisanta Petalco (who were in their 60s), were not Abu Sayyaf members.
Another Abu Sayyaf member who was wounded but died later was found buried in Barangay Lonoy Rama, Inabanga.
As of Saturday evening, military officials have confirmed that they are still pursuing the bandits in the hinterlands of Inabanga and neighboring areas.
“For as long as they are alive, they pose extreme danger to the people,” the retired MIG member said yesterday in a phone interview.
During the clearing operation, military had recovered several bomb-making materials, and according to an intelligence source, the possible target by the notorious terror group was the upcoming Association Southeast Asian (ASEAN) Summit, which will be held in Panglao Island on April 18-22, 2017.
Troops recovered four assault rifles, rifle grenades and a sack load of bomb-making materials, including detonating cords, blasting caps and electronic bomb parts, according to an Associated Press report, which was confirmed by a Bohol Tribune source who was involved in the inventory of the recovered weapons and bomb-making devices.
The AP report added: “It remains unclear what the targets of the militants were, but Bohol draws foreign and local tourists for its beach resorts, waterfalls, caves and wildlife. Bohol island lies about 640 kilometers (397 miles) southeast of Manila and is about an hour by boat from Cebu province, a trade and tourism center. Bohol is to host a meeting next week of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional bloc the Philippines is leading this year.”
The foiled terror attack, according to the source, does not mean the mission will now be abandoned.
“There is always a Plan B, Plan C, and even Plan D,” the source said. “We never know what, but we better brace for the worst.”
“The Abus want to make a statement. Perhaps they want to shame the Duterte administration,” the source noted.
Two days before the clash, the US Embassy in Manila had issued a travel warning to its citizens, urging them to reconsider their travel plans to Central Visayas due to an imminent kidnapping and bombing plot. The embassy had asked American citizens to stay away from crowded areas in Cebu and Bohol.
Military and police officials did not consider the US Embassy’s travel warning seriously, and in fact, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Noli Talino issued a statement assuring visitors that Central Visayas was safe to visit.
But when the Inabanga incident broke out, the US Embassy was proven accurate in its travel warning.
“If you ask me if there remains a threat, yes, there is, especially now that the group had lost four of their comrades,” the MIG source said.
EVACUEES
When the war broke out, hundreds of residents from Napo and neighboring barangays fled the area and sought refuge at the municipal hall of Inabanga where they were taken care of by Mayor Josephine Socorro “Roygie” Jumamoy.
More than 1,000 families were evacuated in at least 12 evacuation centers in Inabanga, Clarin and Tubigon.
Provincial Administrator Damalerio, in coordination with Mayor Jumamoy, had mobilized the TaRSIER117 and DSWD-Bohol teams to ensure that the evacuees were provided with their basic needs while they sought shelter in schools and sports centers.
Damalerio told the Bohol Tribune that individuals, particularly women and children, have undergone stress debriefing sessions with psychologists and DSWD workers.
“We will do everything to restore their inner peace,” Damalerio said.
As of press time, hundreds of families remain in evacuation centers as the clearing operation of the military has not ended.
Residents interviewed by media said they would only return to their homes when they are assured that the fleeing Abu Sayyaf members have been arrested or killed by the government troops.
Mayor Jumamoy told The Bohol Tribune that evacuees can choose at the evacuation centers at the cost of LGU Inabanga, for as long as the threat is imminent.
“Wala silay angay nga problemahon kay ato silang tagaan sa ilang mga gikinahanglan samtang wala pa sila makabalik sa ilang mga panimalay,” Mayor Jumamoy said.
EARLY TUESDAY MORNING
Before the gun battle broke out on Tuesday (April 11, 2017) morning, The Bohol Tribune received the following intel report from a highly-placed source in-charge of the security situation in the province of Bohol.
The confidential report reads:
Information coming from G2, 3ID, PA. As of 101700 April '17, one of the ASG members alyas under MUAMMAR ASKALI @ABU RAMI previously monitored in Sindangan, Zamboanga Del Norte was already in Inabanga, BOHOL. This is different from the one monitored last 10 1000H Apr 17 midnight in Siquijor.
Good pm sir for info:
Significant intelligence report fm WESMINCOM on the planned kidnapping of ASG sub leader Alhabsy MISAYA.
Informant disclosed that ASG subleader Alhabsy MISAYA with Badong Muktadil and more or less 20 armed men left Kalingalang Caluang, Sulu Province midnight of 29 March 17, utilizing two speedboat (colored white and gray). Accordingly, the group will stage a kidnapping activity in the area of Tawi-Tawi and at the cross border area then will return back to their safe haven in Sulu after their operation.
Assessment: Since the informant was left behind, he averred that Alhabsy MISAYA might conduct kidnapping in other areas like in Eastern Mindanao and the Visayas.
Brief Details of alleged ASG monitored in Lazi, Siquijor coming from U2, CENTCOM...
Leader: ASG Sub-leader MUAMMAR ASKALI @ABU RAMI
- using two (2) Junkong-type boats with outboard engines
- members are young aged 18-25 yrs old
- each boat can accommodate 10-12 persons with each boat having 4-6 pers to cater kidnap victims
+++++++
Military officials have confirmed that Abu Rami was one of those killed in Napo, Inabanga.
The slain Abus, together with the elderly couple Petalco, had been laid to their final rest in a barangay in Inabanga on Good Friday.
TERROR PLOT
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said combined military and police forces in Bohol thwarted "major terrorist activities" by the militants, who were aiming to divert the military's focus from intense offensives on the militants' jungle encampments in southern Sulu province and outlying islands.
Interviews with three security officials, along with documents and pictures seen by The Associated Press, indicated that three extremist groups that have pledged allegiance to IS deployed their leading bombers and fighters, some of whom wore IS-style black flag patches, for the Bohol assault.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose details of the ongoing investigation of the foiled attack.
VERIFIED
The Bohol Tribune learned that the intel report it received early in the evening was factual as this paper learned that members of SWAT-Bohol were already deployed in Napo, Inabanga as early as night of Monday.
One of those SWAT-Members was PO2 Rey Anthony Villas Nazareno, 31, who was later killed in the battle.
A SWAT-Bohol member told The Bohol Tribune that Nazareno was hit in the abdomen by a sniper’s bullet at around 9 a.m. of Tuesday. The wound was so fatal that he immediately expired in less than a minute.
Aside from Nazareno, a native of Barangay Ulbujan, Calape, those who also died in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf were 2nd Lt. Estilito Saldua Jr., Corporal Miljune Cajaban, and Sgt. John Dexter Duero, all of the Philippine Army based in Bohol.
Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio has been instructed by Gov. Chatto to facilitate the honoring of the fallen heroes and ensure that their families are provided with necessary assistance.
BUSINESS AS USUAL, PEACE REIGNS
Meanwhile, Gov. Chatto told the Bohol Tribune yesterday that “Holy week activities are going on as customary in Bohol with thousands of faithfuls seen in churches and procession lines.
“Foreign and local tourists have filled the airport, ports , hotels and resorts. Police and Military authorities in Bohol have assured safety of the public,” the governor said.
“They are continually conducting police operations to contain the lawless elements in the municipality of Inabanga and to neutralize their capability to cause any atrocities in the province,” Chatto said.
Holy Week events like the Good Friday rituals and the traditional Easter Sunday HUGOS/SALUBONG are looked forward to with excitement, he added.
AFP CITES COOPERATION OF BOHOLANOS THAT NIP IN THE BUD TERROR ATTACK ON BOHOL
The military on Saturday lauded the Boholanos for the timely information about the presence of 10 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf terrorists that slipped into the shorelines of Bohol early last Tuesday that nipped in the first terror attack on Bohol.
Brig. Gen. Resty Padilla Jr., spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said Boholano civilians living near the shorelines of Barangay Nabo in the town of Inabanga were the ones who first tipped off local authorities about the presence of armed men on board three motorized boats that landed about 5 a.m. last Tuesday.
Barangay Nabo is about 71 kilometers northwest of capital city of Tagbilaran.
Barangay officials immediately relayed the information to the police and military authorities who immediately sent troops to confront the armed men, who were later identified as the Abu Sayyaf terror group.
Fighting immediately erupted between the combined military and police forces against the Abu Sayyaf, led by Abu Rahmi, a notorious terrorist leader from Sulu. The gun battle lasted for 21 hours.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) planes and helicopters were deployed, bombing and strafing the terrorists who had sought refuge in caves in Barangay Nabu, which are many in the village.
Rahmi was among the six Abu Sayyaf terrorists who were killed. The military also suffered four killed, including an army lieutenant.
It was the first time that the Abu Sayyaf sneaked into Bohol, a paradise island, a popular destination for foreign and local tourists.
Had the terrorist made a successful landing undetected, it would have been an unforgettable nightmare for Bohol.
Padilla said the timely report by civilians nipped in the bud the Abu Sayyaf evil intention to sow terror in the island-province.
He said civilian-military cooperation is very important in maintaining peace and order in the country.
It may be recalled that Bohol was the first province in the entire country that crushed the communist insurgency of the New People’s Army (NPA) in 2009 during the time of then Gov. Erico B. Aumentado. (with reports from Bencal, PNA and Associated Press)- Published April 16, 2017
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