THE Maute terrorist group may already be in Metro Manila to carry out a terrorist attack during the Jan. 9 Black Nazarene procession, which draws a mammoth crowd of devotees every year, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said Thursday.
“There is a threat possibly from the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf, but more likely from the Maute group, which is connected with ISIS,” Sueno said at a Palace briefing, referring to the Islamic State.
“There are intelligence reports that they’re already here in Manila. Because these terrorist groups maybe funded from the outside, there is a strong possibility that they’re already here,” Sueno said.
Sueno said the county’s security forces are on full altert on Jan. 9 to prevent any terrorist attack.
“We have been receiving intelligence reports on this. That’s why we are not leaving everything to chance. We are doing everything to prepare,” he said.
“General or specific [threats], we are really preparing,” he added.
The Maute group, which has been the subject of recent military operations in Butig, Lanao del Sur, has been linked to last week’s bombing attack in Leyte where over 30 people were hurt and the Christmas Eve bombing in Midsayap, North Cotabato that killed 12 people.
The group was also said to be behind the Davao City night market bombing last September that killed 15 people and wounded 70 others. The group claims to support the international terrorist group ISIS.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier raised alarm over the possible connections of the recent bomb attacks to the terrorist Maute group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, saying they had formed a tactical alliance to spread terror.
In Thursday’s briefing, Sueno also warned that other bandit groups might retaliate following the killing of Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, alias Tokboy, leader of the Ansar Al-Khilafah group in a shootout yesterday, known to be the most wanted person in Sarangani.
“They might also retaliate. That’s why we have to double, triple our security,” he said.
Despite these threats, the government will not recommend having the procession canceled nor discourage people to attending the religious feast, as it did in 2012 during the previous administration.
“No, I do not think that the government will advise the cancellation of this traditional practice,” Sueno said.
“So, we will just try our best to really keep our people safe. This is why we have the PNP, the military, and the other armed groups in our government to really help contain the–or maintain peace and order and keep our people safe because we heard there will be 18 million who will participate. This is a very big event,” he noted.
“Even if we discourage them…they firmly believe that God will protect them.”
