DESPITE Central Visayas being generally “terrorism free,” the Central Command said it will step up its monitoring of the region for any security threats in light of last Monday’s death of al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden.
Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Central Command (Centcom’s) spokesperson, said in a TV interview that their intelligence network is keeping tabs on security “hot spots” and tourist destinations like Camotes, Boracay, Bohol and Bantayan.
Tampus said Centcom Chief Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva advised them to maintain vigilance on possible terrorist attacks.
He said he considered bin Laden’s death as a decisive factor that could demoralize the global al-Qaida terror network.
Muslim communities in Cebu also said Bin Laden’s death will not pose a threat to the safety of Cebuanos.
A top official of the National Commission on Muslim-Filipinos (NCMF) in Central Visayas said any reprisals is far-fetched.
“We can assure that there is no threat to the Cebuanos. The Muslims here in Cebu won’t be friends to anyone who would threaten the peace and order in the province of Cebu,” NCMF Regional Director Malo Manonggiring said.
The International Police Agency (Interpol) called on all law enforcement agencies around the world to maintain vigilance against possible retaliatory attacks by Bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.
Bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that claimed 3,000 lives in New York, was killed in a dawn helicopter raid on his luxury compound in Abbottabad, north of the Pakistani capital city of Islamabad.
Manonggiring said reports of terrorist groups with ties to al-Qaida lurking in Mindanao are hearsay.
“Those are hearsay meant to scare people,” he said.
In Congress, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district said Bin Laden’s death will definitely trigger reprisals from al-Qaida.
Garcia, who chairs the committee on public safety and order, said he is in constant communication with both the military and police.
He said he was assured by the Philippine National Police (PNP) that security measures are in place.
“There should be heightened alert status at least in the next few weeks… I think they will commemorate his death with all kinds of trouble,” Garcia said.