MNLF offers to help secure South Cotabato festivities

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines  – The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has offered to help police and military units secure the entire city against threats of the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) to stage bombings while South Cotabato is celebrating its 43rd founding anniversary until this Saturday.

“We want to help secure the lives of the people attending the celebration. We all stand ready to help,” said Gen. Rodrigo Daud Fabillon, deputy chief of staff of the MNLF’s military mobilization for peace.

Fabillon, commanding general of the MNLF’s Special Commando Forces based in Mindanao and Palawan, said they want to help because it is their mandate now to support peace and development undertakings and prevent lawless elements, especially terrorists, from disturbing these efforts.

Fabillon offered help after he learned that the provincial police command has placed the entire city under “full red alert” amid JI threats to stage bomb attacks during the celebration here.

Koronadal is a component city of South Cotabato and the administrative center of Central Mindanao. Some 300 policemen, Army soldiers and members of paramilitary groups are now securing the city.

Most of them are deployed in strategic places like malls, transport terminals, hotels, parking areas and other crowded areas. 

If Senior Superintendent Robert Kiunisala, South Cotabato police director, would accept the MNLF’s offer, Fabillon said he would immediately deploy a Special Commando Forces battalion in various parts of the city to help the police and military detect and neutralize JI operatives who are possibly here.

Earlier, police and military said they were on the lookout for child bombers who could bring in improvised explosives and plant these in target areas.

According to intelligence reports, the terror group would tap children aged nine to 13 as bomb couriers since they could easily pass through checkpoints.

In a cell phone interview, Kiunisala said they appreciate the MNLF’s offer.

“Their offer to help is welcome to us,” he said, adding that more people securing the city would ensure the safety of the public from the terrorists’ “evil plans.”