By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD, With a report from Antonio L. Colina IV
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has instituted stringent measures to prevent foreign and local terrorists from launching any attacks in Mindanao similar to what happened to Marawi City.
AFP-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO) chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo gave this assurance after the remark made by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar regarding alleged plans of the terrorist group Daulah Islamiyah attack another city in Mindanao.
“We have instituted stringent measures to keep foreign and local terrorists in check. These include constant coordination with other intelligence agencies of government through established platforms. We have protocols that we observe and continuously undergo updating,” said Arevalo.
Arevalo added that the active participation of the public and community will also help in ensuring that terrorists will not succeed in launching any kind or form of attacks.
“But at the end of the day, the active involvement of our people and institutions of government that shall render our security posture strong and effective,” said Arevalo.
Meantime, Metro Marawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MMCCI) vice president Solaiman L. Matonding agreed to extend martial law in Mindanao to one year for “security reasons.”
But at the same time, Matonding wants government to ensure victims of looting as allegedly perpetrated by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) be “given justice.”
Matonding, who is also President of the Marawi Association of Internally Displaced Business Persons Association, appealed to government to look into the issue hoping for culprits to be prosecuted, otherwise, he said, “it won’t be wise to extend” martial law in Mindanao.