MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified security measures in Mindanao to prevent a repeat of the Marawi siege following reports that Islamic State (IS)-affiliated groups were actively recruiting new members.
Other key cities in the South are at risk of another terrorist attack similar to the Marawi siege launched by the IS-inspired Maute group, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said yesterday.
“All major key cities in Mindanao are candidates to become Marawi part 2,” he said during a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The PNP is focused on preventive measures to thwart the IS-inspired groups in Mindanao from carrying out terror attacks.
“Defense and security in Davao City will be replicated in other police stations in Mindanao,” Dela Rosa said.
Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, is in Davao City to oversee security measures there, he added.
He admitted that another Marawi siege is possible based on intelligence reports that terrorist groups were recruiting members.
But Dela Rosa clarified it would be difficult for the groups to carry out another attack due to lack of logistics and personnel.
“It will take some time. A large-scale attack like Marawi will take months or years of planning,” he said.
He said the PNP, for its part, should prevent the recruitment activities of the IS in the country.
Marwan widow’s arrest
The arrest of the widow of Malaysia bombmaker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, is a big boost to the anti-terrorism effort of the government, Dela Rosa said.
He added that the arrest of Juromee Dongon would virtually stop the recruitment of the terror group for new members in Mindanao.
Dela Rosa said Juromee is a sister of Reneer Dongon, the boyfriend of Supt. Christina Nobleza who was part of the effort to carry out kidnapping-for-ransom in Panglao, Bohol last April.
Dongon was apprehended along with Senior Police Officer 4 Andy Atta and his wife Lorilie Dongon-Atta, her father Romeo Dongon and Norein Santos, in two separate raids in Tubod and Baroy towns in Lanao del Norte on Sunday.
Supt. Lemuel Gonda, regional police spokesman, said they were not taking chances as the remaining members of the terrorist group might be regrouping.
Marwan was Dongon’s second husband. She was married first to slain Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjanlani.
Dongon denied being a terrorist.
Palace welcomes arrest
Malacañang welcomed the arrest of Dongon, calling it an important step against terrorism.
“We are happy that she was arrested,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing.
“Normally, the chance of carrying out an arrest becomes lower as time goes by. But the relatives of Marwan were arrested and we are happy about it. That is an important step in the fight against terrorists,” he added.
Australia’s assessment
Malacañang also agreed with Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely, who said that there is evidence suggesting that terrorists involved in the Marawi siege are regrouping to launch another attack.
“I think that has been a shared view of our armed forces, which prompted the decision to extend the declaration of martial law in Mindanao,” Roque said.
“We are of course monitoring the situation, we are able and willing to deal with any new threats. But I think this latest statement of the Australian ambassador only verifies what we already know – that they are regrouping and recruiting more people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted that it cannot win the fight against terrorism alone and it needs the public’s help to battle extremist groups through vigilance and cooperation.
“We call on the people to help in the effort against terrorism,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bienvendo Datuin said amid reports that the IS-linked Maute is regrouping. – With Alexis Romero, Gerry Lee Gorit, Michael Punongbayan