Military, PNP assure public Alert up vs ASG in Negros, Cebu

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Philippine National Police and the military have assured the public that stringent security measures are now in place to avert any possible terror attack by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Negros Oriental province, especially in this capital city.

Superintendent Alet Virtucio, director of the Negros Oriental Police, said his command is now on alert following a report that newly trained members of the ASG will be deployed to Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Cebu provinces.

The intelligence report on the terror threat however has yet to be verified, said Virtucio, while sources from the military intelligence community on Sunday said they also got unvalidated information about the ASG's three-month training in Tawi-tawi and then spread terrorism in Dumaguete, Bacolod and Cebu cities as part of their test mission.

About 15 ASG members have been sent on this mission and are now staying in a safe house somewhere in Cebu, the report said.

Virtucio said that, after he received the same report late last week, he asked the police chiefs to relay the information to managers of bus terminals, seaports and the airport, as well as security officers of shopping malls and department stores to intensify their security measures.

Meanwhile, police and military operatives have warned banks, financial institutions and pawnshops to be on guard also against the notorious Ozamiz robbery group, some members of which had been reported to have arrived in Dumaguete.

Virtucio on Sunday, however, said the reported presence of two alleged members of the Ozamis group has to be validated yet, but he ordered his men to coordinate with the banks to alert their guards and conduct a dry run on their security alarm systems.

The police have coordinated also with barangay officials to monitor the presence of suspicious persons in their respective areas.

In a related development, the PNP's Ordnance Explosive Division and the SWAT members have briefed guards of a mall in the city to learn and detect the varied types of bombs and other explosive devices. (FREEMAN)