P’sinan cops remain on alert vs return of ‘Rajah Solaiman’

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Pangasinan police continues to be on guard against the possible return of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), believed allied with the Abu Sayyaf and which once ran a training camp for Muslim converts in Anda town several years ago.

Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima, provincial police director, made this assurance when quizzed about their efforts to avoid the return of the RSM, especially Tyrone Santos, alias Dawud Santos, one of those arrested in Anda several years ago but who had jumped bail and disappeared.

Santos’ elder brother, Hilarion, was detained in Zamboanga City last week.

Santos’ case in Pangasinan did not prosper, based on information gathered by Purisima.

Purisima said he has a standing order to the police chief of Anda town and those of other municipalities "to closely monitor areas where Muslim-origin communities are situated."

Superintendent Noli Taliño, provincial intelligence chief, said his men continue to gather information about Santos’ group, but "so far, there is no (terrorist) threat yet in the area."

When he assumed his post last June, Purisima said he called for a meeting with what he described as "members of Mindanao-origin communities."

He said he told their elders to "control their ranks" and got assurances from them that they would not condone any illegal activities of their members.

"They are here for business. They left Mindanao because of the chaos there. They won’t gain anything in Pangasinan if they disturb the peace and order here," Purisima said.

As to the possibility that Santos might return to Anda town, Purisima said, "Normally, you don’t go back to the place where you were arrested unless you have an extreme need or reason to do so."

He said he believes that Santos and his group are aware that they are being watched closely so they will naturally avoid Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao assured Pangasinenses that "no terrorism will happen here, perhaps in the next few years."

Lomibao, who hails from Mangaldan town, said the province is not high on the terrorists’ priority list of targets.

Despite this, he said the local folk still have to be vigilant.

"Pangasinan only came to the fore when we discovered the training movement," he said.

Lomibao was then the police director of the Ilocos region when the training camp of Santos’ group was discovered in Anda town.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces Southern Command has alerted its units following the warning issued by RSM leader Hilarion del Rosario Santos that bombings would continue. — With Roel Pareño