ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A senior security official has disclosed intelligence reports about the plan of the group of Basit Usman to stage bombings in Digos, Davao City and Metro Manila.
Police Director Felicisimo Khu, Western Mindanao's Director for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) chief, however, said they are still verifying the intelligence report which came out last June.
Usman, who is said to be a protégé of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant Zulkipli Bin Hir alias Marwan, was tagged in the spate of bombing attacks in Central Mindanao recently.
However, Khu said the security units in Central Mindanao have remained under alert level three to thwart bombing plots.
Meanwhile, police and military forces in this southern port city have also been placed under red alert also following the series of bombings in Cotabato City early this week.
Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, city police director, said that although they have not verified any intelligence report of any bombing threat, the alert level is part of their preemptive and pro-active measures to prevent any terror plot.
He said the security alert is also part of the preparations for the conduct of the regional forum and presentation of officer-in-charge candidates for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.