Five Mindanao regions placed under high terror alert from JI threats

The Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) has placed the five regions in Mindanao on high alert due to continued threats from al-Qaeda linked groups Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon said ATTF officials were put on Level 3 or "high threat alert" the five regions, Western Mindanao (Region IX), Northern Mindanao (Region X), Southern Mindanao (Region XI), Central Mindanao (Region XII) and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The ATTF, composed of agents from various security bodies including the police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), categorized the threat levels as low, moderate, high and extreme, which is sub-categorized into "extreme severe" and "extreme critical."

A "high" terrorist threat level means a terrorist attack is a strong possibility within a certain period of time.

When the level of terrorist threat is "low," it means there is no monitored intent and capability to attack; when the threat level is "moderate," it means that a terrorist attack is possible but not likely to happen.

The "extreme" category is sub-categorized as "extreme severe," which means a terrorist attack is highly likely, and "extreme critical," which means that a terrorist attack has occurred or has just been preempted and that more attacks are expected.

Calderon said the threat level assessment for Metro Manila remains "moderate," but he directed the National Capital Regional Region Police Office (NCRPO) to implement safety measures to preempt any terrorist attacks. – With AFP