BAÑOC
No one can blame nowadays if people are already paranoid over reports, founded or unfounded, that involve security. This is because of the series of terrorist attacks in different places around the world.
In the Philippines, the Maute Group, the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that claim to be the local contacts of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have been making trouble in Marawi City. Add to that the Resorts World Manila incident that killed 38 people.
Hence, recently, people are alarmed over the report circulated on social media that the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group was said to have received information from a reliable source that a joint ISIS Maute and BIFF terror groups will launch terror attacks over key cities nationwide on June 30.
The content of the supposedly internal and confidential memorandum of the PNP further states that petroleum trucks or LPG delivery trucks will be hijacked and used as vehicle bombs targeting churches, shopping malls and populated areas. Foreign terrorist groups will carry out the said suicide attacks.
The memorandum also stated that the Maute special units who graduated last November from explosive trainings had already been in place at their respected targets nationwide to simultaneously execute the said attack during the Friday prayer “JUMAAH.”
Ordinary people who see the picture of the memorandum online will naturally be alarmed because it appears that it is a true existing memorandum which is supposed to be within the PNP organization’s consumption that leak to the public.
In fact, stated on it are serious directives to intensify intelligence monitoring, coordinate with intelligence counterparts to gather related information and undertake appropriate security measures to preempt any terrorist attack.
It also shows the name of the high-ranking police officials who appears to be the one who issued the memo.
In line with the said report, I received text messages and calls from my friends asking me if there is truth on the said information.
I told them that our reporters have already asked the officials of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas as regards the matter, but as of this writing, their answer is that they are still validating the said report.
I hope that our police in the region can give update to the public and categorically answer the following questions, to wit: Does the said memorandum really exist? If not, can the PNP have the capacity to identify the irresponsible person who circulated the false report?
If the said memo exists, then how come that it leaked to the public? How long would the PNP validate the content of the memo?
While we wish that the threat is not real, we also urge everyone to be responsible users of social media especially in this crucial time that terrorists have continued to sow fear in our community. However, if there is truth to the said memorandum, then the public deserves to know the matter.
It is time for everyone to be vigilant and help the authorities to prevent any terrorist attacks. We should remember that the Abu Sayyaf group who was about to create turmoil in Bohol was not successful because of the unity and cooperation of the Boholanos.
Everyone must stay vigilant. That is the way to fight terrorism.
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