Central Luzon folk urged: Be vigilant against MILF-backed terrorists

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Law enforcement and local government authorities as well as residents of Central Luzon should be more vigilant against Muslim extremists.

Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, Civil Security Group director of the Philippine National Police, made this call, saying that developments in Mindanao involving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have substantiated his findings almost two years ago that the separatist group had linked up with a terrorist cell in Central Luzon.

Berroya served as Central Luzon police director until he was appointed Civil Security Group director last September.

He recalled that way back in April and May 2001, his intelligence operatives uncovered in the region MILF links to a group called Rajah Sulaiman believed to be part of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist cell.

"Some even laughed at the report. Now, developments in Mindanao seem to indicate that the MILF in engaged in terrorist operations," he said.

Berroya, however, said there could be no cause for alarm since the uncovering of Rajah Sulaiman seemed to have prevented disruptive plans of the group in the region.

But he stressed the need for law enforcement agencies, local government leaders and residents of Central Luzon to be more vigilant.

"The civilian population should immediately report to authorities any suspicious persons or happenings in their neighborhoods," he said.

Berroya recalled that during President Arroyo’s visit to Clark Field in May 2001, he reported the arrest of nine suspected terrorists in operations that month in Anda, Pangasinan and San Clemente, Tarlac.

He said the two areas were being used as terrorist training camps, with one Muchlis Yunos of the MILF as the trainor.

He said Muslim extremists launched the Rajah Sulaiman in Central Luzon to convert local folk to the Muslim religion.