PNP director says no need shoot-to-kill vs. Pareja

Philippine National Police director Arturo Lomibao yesterday said it is not necessary to shoot Dino Amor Rosalejos Pareja, alias Mohammad Khalil Pareja, who is believed to be the leader of the Rajah Sulaiman Movement (RSM).

The PNP chief responded to a query if there is a shoot-to-kill order released against Pareja, telling reporters that there is no need to shoot him. But if Pareja will resist arrest, he will possibly be shot, according to Lomibao.

Pareja is believed to be the local contact of two suspected terrorists, Alu Usop and Datu Neil Ulama, who were killed in a shootout with policemen after they reportedly left an explosive device near the entrance of a mall at the North Reclamation Area Thursday last week.

Lomibao denied that the shootout was scripted, saying that an investigation is ongoing regarding the incident.

Regional police director Eduardo Gador also said that the incident was not scripted since there was an involvement of a civilian who informed the mall's security guard and called up police later regarding the two persons who left a box containing the improvise explosive.

Gador encouraged the media to focus on the issue since Cebu has always been threatened with bomb attacks, giving assurance that police will double their efforts to thwart any terrorist plot.

Meanwhile, Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Augusto Marquez said Pareja is still in Cebu.

Marquez said that he believed Pareja did not go elsewhere despite reports that he already left for Sulu since his family is based in Cebu.

But the police official admitted that they do not have any information as to Pareja's whereabouts. - Norvie S. Misa