THE military and police have increased security, particularly along various coastlines, so as to detect and thwart any retaliatory attacks following the government victory in Marawi City, after reports said 40 foreign terrorists might have slipped into the country.
Despite these unconfirmed reports, the National Capital Regional Police Office said it has not received any direct terror threat in Metro Manila.
Still, the NCRPO said it was on alert for possible attacks after police and military forces arrested Joromee Dongon, the widow of slain terrorist leaders Khadafy Janjalani and Malaysian jihadist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.
Dongon and other suspects, including her father and sister, were found with explosives and firearms.
Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuis Jr., chief of the AFP’s Civil Relations Services aid they are working together with the Philippine National Police and the Coast Guard to guard against terrorist attacks.
He said forces in Western Mindanao Command are closely guarding coastal waters and the southern borders.
To enhance security against terrorism, Datuin said they have also forge cooperation with Malaysia, and Indonesia in interdicting suspected terrorists in the border waters.
“We have established agreements—trilateral and bilateral joint patrols with Malaysia and Indonesia just to secure our waters. So we continue to monitor [the situation],” Datuin said.
Datuin could not confirm the reports about 40 foreign terrorists, however.
President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Tuesday to strengthen and modernize the military and police forces to avert threats from terrorists and armed rebels and to help safeguard the country and protect freedom and democracy.
The President made the announcement in a speech during the inauguration of a shooting range in Davao City, where he reiterated his commitment to further enhance the armed capabilities of the AFP and PNP to avert any future threats and challenges to national security.
“I wish to announce now that I want to build a strong Armed Forces and a strong police before I leave my office,” Duterte said.
In line with the continuing modernization program of the government, Duterte said that the Philippines would be receiving some 5,000 firearms from a “friendly country” in the coming days.
“I am not at liberty to divulge it but in the next few days we will have about 5,000 more [guns] coming from a friendly country,” he said.
He noted that the government is trying to acquire firearms from countries other than the United States to equip the military and police with the necessary weapons to quell the threat of terrorism such as the Marawi siege.
“We will survive and we will win these pocket wars. And we will be a great nation someday,” he said .
In the same occasion, Duterte said his campaign against illegal drugs would continue despite the decision by the International Criminal Court to conduct a preliminary examination into allegations of summary executions in the government’s war on drugs.
“It will not stop the war against drugs. ICC or no ICC, it will proceed and it would last until the day—of the last day of my term,” Duterte said.
The Norther Luzon Command, meanwhile, reported two encounters between its troops and communist rebels in Santo Niño, Cagayan. One soldier was wounded.
