The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured the public Sunday that intense security operations around the country, especially in Mindanao, will be sustained to thwart any terror plans by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) following the arrest of a suspected Indonesian suicide bomber and her two aides in Jolo, Sulu.
Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said the military is anticipating that the ASG will be eager to retaliate and launch attacks after the capture of 17-year-old Rezky Fantasya Rullie, alias "Cici," Nur-Aina Alihasan, alias "Inda Nhur," and Fatima Sandra Jimlani last Saturday.
"Laging ganyan ang kanilang default, talagang laging ang hangarin niya ay gumanti. Kapag may nahuli tayo o may napatay sa kanilang hanay ay talaga pong nagsusulong sila ng kanilang mga terrorist activities or terrorist plans. Ang mangyari lang kapag may mga ganito ay lalong sumisidhi ang kanilang kagustuhan na maisagawa itong ganitong mission (That is their default (response), they want to retaliate. Whenever we arrest or kill anybody in their group, the more that they want to pursue their terrorist activities or plans. They are more inspired to accomplish their mission)," Arevalo said in a radio interview over dzBB.
Based on a military intelligence report, Rullie, who is six months pregnant, committed to do a suicide bombing mission in Zamboanga City to avenge the death of her husband, Andy Baso, a suspected Indonesian terrorist who was reportedly killed in an armed encounter in Patikul, Sulu last Aug. 29, 2020.
There were also plans by the ASG to carry out suicide bombing missions in military camps in Sulu, Lt. Col. Alaric delos Santos, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, told reporters.
"Kaya po ang paghahanda ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas sa atas ng ating Chief of Staff, si bagong promote Gen. Gilbert Gapay, na isulong natin ang ating mga conduct ng operations (This is the reason why the Armed Forces of the Philippines, on the orders of Chief of Staff, newly promoted Gen. Gilbert Gapay, is pushing to sustain the conduct of our operations)," Arevalo noted.
"Walang let up ito, tuloy-tuloy sapagkat ayaw natin silang bigyan ng puwang na makapagsagawa ng mga pagpa-plano at pag-e-execute ng mga planong iyan (There is no let-up (in the operations) and this is continuous because we don't want to give them a chance to execute their plans)," he added.
Arevalo said the military has intensified its coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other intelligence and security agencies as well as the local government units to monitor any suspicious activities in Mindanao.
The military also wants a stronger coordination with Indonesia and Malaysia to improve the trilateral border patrols among the three countries.
The maritime boundary between the Philippines and Indonesia lies mainly on the Celebes Sea which is being used by foreign and local terrorists, and other lawless elements such as pirates and smugglers, to penetrate the southern backdoor of the country.
"Mayroon tayong tinagawag na trilateral border patrolling na ginagawa together with these two countries. Iyan ay pinaiigting pa nating lalo upang sa ganun ay ating mas higit na mabantayan iyong tinatawag nating vast and porous border dyan sa southern backdoor (We have a trilateral border patrol together with these two countries. We will intensify this so that we can better guard the vast and porous border in the southern backdoor)," Arevalo said.