Presence of suicide bombers detected in Iloilo?

BACOLOD CITY — Police commanders in the Western Visayas have been directed to intensify information gathering following unconfirmed reports that suicide bombers are in Iloilo to allegedly sow terror in key urban centers in Region 6.

While the information is still being verified by the police intelligence community, PNP regional chief Doroteo Reyes raised the possibility that terrorist groups may strike anytime, particularly in tourist areas.

Policemen and military personnel tasked to secure Boracay island were recently beefed up.

Last week, an estimated 600 kilos of bomb materials were seized from Tyrone Dave Santos, who is said to be a brother of Ahmed Santos, leader of the Raja Solaiman Revolutionary Group, an extremist group of "Balik Islam" converts.

PNP spokeman Leopoldo Bataoil, who admitted having received numerous threats from Muslim extremist groups, said the police had successfully kept the terrorists on the run.

Meanwhile, both the military and police declared that the Lenten celebration in Negros Occidental was generally peaceful, except for some stabbing incidents that claimed the lives of two persons. — Antonietta Lopez