House Deputy Speaker Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman hailed Friday the military and police forces for containing an apparent terrorist attack in Datu Piang, Maguindanao Thursday, saying that another "Marawi incident" was foiled.
“I congratulate the Armed Forces and the police for containing the situation before it got out of control. Nangyari ito sa panahon na nagpapahinga na ang mga tao, sa gitna ng kadiliman ng gabi. Pero naging maagap ang ating AFP at PNP (This happened in the middle of the night as people lay asleep. But the AFP and PNP were quick on their feet)," Hataman said.
A few hours before midnight Thursday, netizens began posting messages, photos, and videos of armed men attacking the town center or “poblacion” of Datu Piang. Initial reports indicated that a police outpost had been overrun and a squad vehicle had been burned.
Hours after, security forces reportedly subdued the armed assailants. News agencies have pinned the brazen attack to alleged members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“Yes, this is a clear win…But we should not stop there," noted Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
"Dapat pag-ibayuhin natin ang pagkalap ng mahalagang impormasyon at intelligence gathering upang mapigilan ang mga pinaplano pa ng teroristang grupo (We should expand our information and intelligence gathering capabilities in order to foil future plans of terrorist groups)," he said.
He likened the Datu Piang attack to the assault launched by ISIS-inspired Maute Group terrorists in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur on May 23, 2017. It took government forces five months to drive out the enemy, with Marawi yet to get back on its feet over three years after.
“What happened in Datu Piang yesterday is a hard lesson for all of us: That forces of evil do not sleep. They will come at a time when we least expect them. And they will stop at nothing to sow fear in all of us. This is why we have to be vigilant," Hataman said.
The House deputy speaker urged the government to step up its anti-terrorism campaign by including a rehabilitation and reformation program for militants who may want to lay down their arms in exchange for a life of peace.
Hataman, together with Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, had earlier filed House Bill (HB) No. 4585 which seeks the creation of a program for "Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)," now pending before the House Committee on Public Order and Safety.
The program is patterned after Hataman's project during his term as ARMM governor called the Program Against Violent Extremism or PAVE. It sought to solve terrorism by addressing its roots – poverty and the lack of livelihood opportunities, education, and health programs, among others.