Army, PNP remained on alert in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY -– Security officials here are not taking any chances and remained on
heightened alert due to possibilities of terror attacks from IS inspired armed
group.

Army and
police officials said Cotabato City is at threat level 3 because the city is
among the target for attacks by terrorists any time.

During the
Cotabato City Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting, security officials
revealed that the IS inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is
targeting urban centers in Region 12, including Cotabato City.

An Army
intelligence report showed that the BIFF have manufactured undetermined number
of improvised explosive devices that they planned to detonate in populated
areas.

But Brig. Gen.
Diosdado Carreon, 601st Infantry Brigade chief, said the military
had taken one step ahead of the BIFF plot and seized some of its IEDs following
skirmishes in Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak towns in Maguindanao.

Cotabato City
Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi who presided over the meeting said she was glad the
security sectors are doing its jobs of securing the city and its residents.

Whatever the
threat level is, for me what is important is that all security officials,
police, military and the intelligence community are working together,
Guiani-Sayadi said.

Cotabato City
with a population of more than 300,000 inhabitants have survived several
bombing attempts in recent years, including the bombing in front of the
Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral and the roadside bombing attempt against Mayor
Sayadi in 2015.

Lt. Colonel
James Uri, commander of the 5th Special Forces Battalion based here,
said the Army, police and the Task Force Kutabato are not taking any chances
and that all preventive measures are in place.

He appealed to
city residents to continue their vigilance against lawless elements out to sow
terror in the city and nearby communities. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)