Air Force fighters, including an attack helicopter, are ready for Bohol against the Mindanao-based Abu Sayyaf terrorists who were reported out to abduct foreign tourists here, preferably on Panglao island, this according to PNP Provincial Director Constantino Paul Barot, Jr. The Bohol police commander reported in the consultative meeting of key provincial and municipal officials and national agency heads convened by Gov. Edgar Chatto on Friday that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) already committed two choppers, the other one a utility helicopter, for any eventuality. Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Jr., commander of the 2 nd Special Forces Battalion, said they would make sure that the “threats are repelled or (the terrorists) prevented to come in.” The military assurance apparently includes its preparedness against the domestic threat of any armed communist unit. Brawner received a report of the landing of armed men, whom he suspected to be members of the New people's Army (NPA), somewhere along the coastline of Mabini town “just before New Year's Day.” Barot said they are now much concerned of Balicasag island, a part of Poblacion in Panglao, and nearby Pamilacan island, which belongs to Baclayon, amid the Abu Sayyaf threat.

The two islands are also tourist havens and strategically vulnerable to bandit attack in the absence or looseness of security measures. With the Air Force “commitment,” Barot said he already organized a task force, which half of men would be fielded to Panglao while the rest remain on alert at Camp Dagohoy. While the military and police chorused that there is yet nothing to cause actual alarm, Gov. Edgar Chatto said it pays for the peacekeeping forces to be constantly prepared and ready. Brawner said that while they take threats with a degree of seriousness, they are not causing alarm. He said the synchronization matrix for the security forces is in place while the crisis management committee has been on alert. The matrix also involves the coordinative moves of other law enforcement forces such as the maritime police, coast guard and navy. Barot said the air force support thru its combat and utility choppers is vital considering the uncertainty of patrol boats, even naval boats, against the fast boats of the terrorists.

In May 2001, heavily-armed Abu Sayyaf men who posed as law enforcers cruised all the way to Palawan and abducted some 20 foreign tourists at the Dos Palmas resort in just 10 minutes. It was a military informant based in Zambonaga who leaked to the army in Bohol late Monday afternoon that a double-engine speed boat boarded by Abu Sayyaf men was going to Bohol to kidnap two foreigners on Panglao island. The terrorists reportedly belonged to the “Dr. Abu Group” and that they allegedly had already “advance spies,” according to Brawner. Showing “much concern” for the islands of Balicasag and Pamilacan, the PNP dispatched troopers from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) to Balicasag on Thursday while another combat police troop will augment the Baclayon police force securing Pamilacan. Although not intended to cause alarm, the military bared certain scenarios of the Abu Sayyaf to be landing on Bohol shore aboard their own fast boat or pirating fast local fishing boats midsea to gain unsuspicious entry. The terrorists might board a commercial fastcraft and that the supposed plot to land on Panglao island aboard their own speed boat and abduct tourists could be just a diversionary tactic for their ultimate act---bombing a crowded public area, important building, vital facility or essential installation in Bohol but not Panglao or outside Bohol but within the region. (Ven rebo Arigo)

PREPARED VS ABUS

THERE was no need to be alarmed, thus assured Gov. Chatto as he stressed Bohol has prepared to repel the threat of Abu Sayyaf bandits planning to abduct foreign tourists here for ransom. “We have adopted a policy of being prepared all the time, and even then we have approached everything with a high degree of preparedness,” Chatto said after a briefing by military and police security operations at a forum held at the Bohol Tropics Friday. In his threat briefing, 2 nd Special Forces Batallion Commander, Col. Romeo Brawner said he, along with other Bohol key officials received circulated text messages Monday last week about an intelligence report from a Zamboanga agent. The message bared that a band of Abu Sayyaf bandits took on a double-engined speedboat Monday morning heading for Bohol to kidnap and abduct two foreign nationals. The reports also said that the group led by a certain Dr. Abu, has already a spotter group in into Bohol a week ahead.

Sharing the preparations in place to safeguard tourists and Bohol tourism industries, Col Brawner said command conferences were immediately called by the army and other security agencies to prepare for the crisis management. The former army spokesperson said the country's internal security keepers already exhausted five scenarios, which would most likely be attack entries of bandits. The tackling of scenarios always help tactical operation planners explore possibilities and plan strategic actions to repel and deny any possible attack, a military strategic planner shared. Security operations were prepared for possibilities of onshore abduction, fast-craft interception, sea-craft high-jacking, intercepting dolphinwatching tourists and bandits using diversionary tactics including bombs. “We are not alarmists, we do not want to cause alarm, but we planned actions that could be taken to safeguard our peace,” Brawner said.

On this, the military said they have coordinated with other local security keepers to get assets in the area and beef up local security, especially in Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands. “We are still in the process of collecting information, intensifying security operations at entry points, beefing up shore patrols and preparing for crisis management,” Brawner added. On this, Brawner showed on powerpoint a synchronization matrix to assign areas of security responsibility among the police, Philippine Coast Guard Philippine Navy, Army, Philippine Air Force, Maritime Police and the special forces. But while the intelligence reports have been negative as yet, Brawner urged people to report any suspicious looking persons and boats, to the quick reaction hotlines. (racPIABohol)

HEIGHTENED ALERT

Bohol is under a heightened security alert over intelligence reports from Region 12 that a band of Abu Sayyaf bandits head here to kidnap foreign nationals. While the police and military authorities received the report which has been negative since last Monday, Bohol Police Provincial Commander Constantino Barot urges people to help them get information on time so that security operatives and crime busters can immediately react. Speaking reassurances of a prepared force amid speculations and alarm, Barot stressed that information gathering is everyone's responsibility. Sharing their preparations based on the reports, Barot also added that his men are in fact acting on other reports that armed men have landed in some coastlines of Mabini, italicizing the adequate preparations by strategically relocating its resources where they are most needed. Upon receipt of the texted report about the coming of a double engined speedboat with Abus Sayyaf on board, he said he immediately called a conference with police forces of Panglao, Dauis and Public Safety Company to map out action plans.

Consequently, additional troops were sent to Panglao and the local tourist police office has been beefed up to allow deployment of security forces in strategic points, he said. Highlighting the lack of manpower, Barot revealed that in coordination with other government security forces, the Philippine Navy has sent a patrol boat in Balicasag, one of the islands habituated by foreign and local torists making authorities concerned. He also added that a Regional Mobile Group detachment (RMG) would be deployed to replace the security operations in Pamilacan island, which is temporarily handled by Baclayon police elements. Over the question of whether government sea assets can really go after the sleek and mainstreamed speedboats used by illegal elements, he said the Regional intelligence and Investigation Division has coordinated with the Air Force, who in turn has committed an attack helicopter and a utility chopper for the security operations. On the fact that bandits may be hitting other areas in Bohol, Barot said he has declared a heightened alert around the province including beach resorts in Pitogo and Anda. Another intelligence agent shared that before getting to Bohol, the band of bandits would be tracked by security operations set up by the provinces of Dumaguete and Siquijor. (racPIABohol)