PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar (File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday has ordered concerned police offices and units to be on alert against retaliatory attacks by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), following the death of a leader and three members in an encounter with government troops in Jolo, Sulu on Sunday.
“I am tasking the local police to go on full alert dahil ine-expect din po natin na posibleng gumanti ang mga natitirang miyembro lalo’t kapatid ni (ASG bomber) Mundi Sawadjaan ang isa sa mga napatay sa engkwentro (because we expect that their remaining members might retaliate because one of those who were killed in the encounter is the brother of ASG bomber Mundi Sawadjaan),” said PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement.
Among those killed were Al-Al Sawadjaan, ASG sub-leader Injam Yadah, a certain Abu Raup, and a still unidentified ASG member.
“Sinisiguro ko po sa publiko na hindi po namin hahayaang makapaghasik ng kaguluhan ang grupong ito (I assure the public that we will not allow this group to bring chaos),” he added.
State security forces were about to serve a warrant of arrest against Yadah when the Abu Sayyaf terrorists fired at them, prompting the police and the military to retaliate.
Yadah was involved in kidnapping incidents while Sawadjaan had knowledge of bomb-making. His brother, Mundi, was the alleged mastermind of the twin blasts in Jolo last year.
Eleazar assured that the police and military will further intensify joint operations to capture Mundi and the remaining bandits.
“We are doubling our efforts to capture Mundi and his men. We will intensify our coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as our intelligence-gathering efforts to combat this group and stop their attacks on innocent civilians,” said Eleazar.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant and immediately report to authorities if they have information that can help locate the bandits. (PNA)
