A regional military commander, Marine Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, says they would launch Monday, October 5, 2009 a new “hot line” that would allow citizens to send text messages from their cell phones or inform authorities about suspicious persons or information that could prevent terrorism. Aside from the new hot line number, police also have telephone numbers 166 and 117 posted in many areas in Zamboanga City where citizens can call at anytime in case of an emergency similar to 911 in the United States. However, some of the hot lines were wrongly printed and instead of 166, the police line is written as 116. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / October 4, 2009) – Authorities are in heightened alert Sunday in Zamboanga City following the fighting between troops and rebels in Sulu province in the southern Philippines.
“We have stepped up our security and are closely working with the police to prevent terrorism or bombing in Zamboanga City,” Army Colonel Santiago Baluyot, commander of an anti-terror task force, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Zamboanga City, which had been previously bombed by Abu Sayyaf militants, is currently celebrating the weeklong Hermosa Festival in honor of the Virgin Mary locally known as “Our Lady of the Pilar,” its patron saint.
A regional military commander, Marine Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, said they would launch Monday a new “hotline” that would allow citizens to send text messages from their cell phones or inform authorities about suspicious persons or information that could prevent terrorism.
“We are going to launch this on Monday so citizens can easily and quickly provide information through SMS (short message system) from their cell phones,” Dolorfino said in a separate interview.
Aside from the new hotline number, police also have telephone numbers 166 and 117 posted in many areas in Zamboanga City where citizens can call at anytime in case of an emergency similar to 911 in the United States.However, some of the hotlines were wrongly printed and instead of 166, the police line is written as 116.
Government forces are battling Moro rebels since last month in the province and had already killed at least 45 gunmen and soldiers, including two members of the US Special Forces.
The Bangsamoro National Liberation Army warned of more attacks against the military and civilian targets in the Philippines in retaliation to the continued government offensive against rebels in Sulu province.
The shadowy group, an ally of the Moro National Liberation Front, has claimed responsibility for the September 29 roadside bombing in Sulu that killed US soldiers Sergeant First Class Christopher D. Shaw of Markham, Illinois, 37; and Staff Sergeant Jack M. Martin III of Bethany, Oklahoma, 26.
Madarang Sali, BNLA deputy supreme commander, rebel forces have declared a holy war against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine government.
Sali, also the spokesman for the Bangsamoro Federated States of Sulu Archipelago, said US forces were involved in the Philippine military offensive against the rebel forces.
He said the BNLA is headed by Lieutenant General Abdulnasser Iskandar, while the MNLF are under the command of Ustadz Habier Malik, Khaid Ajibun and Tahil Usman.
Sali said only 10 MNLF rebels were killed in the fighting – seven under Malik and three more under the command of Ajibun. He warned of more attacks against US troops if they continue participating in combat operations in Sulu.
Dolorfino said troops were tracking down at least four most senior Abu Sayyaf leaders – Dr Abu, Albader Parad, Isnilon Hapilon and Yasser Igasan – including two foreign Jemaah Islamiya terrorists Mauiya and Quayem and some 200 followers.
But the killing of the two US Special Forces soldiers further bolstered suspicions that American troops joined counterterrorism operations in Sulu where 42 militants and soldiers were killed in recent clashes in Indanan town.
Sali said only 10 MNLF rebels were killed in the fighting – seven under Malik and three more under the command of Ajibun. He warned of more attacks against US troops if they continue participating in combat operations in Sulu.
US troops have been are deployed in Sulu since 2006 and assisting the Philippine military in defeating the Abu Sayyaf. Although security officials deny US forces were directly involved in combat operations, there were numerous reports from civilians and various civil groups that American soldiers actually participated in the operations aimed at capturing or killing militant leaders in Sulu and other parts of Mindanao.
The MNLF signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, but many of its members were disgruntled with the accord and accused the government of failing to uplift their living standards. Sali last week said the military offensive targeted the MNLF in Sulu. He said Ajibun escaped a military raid last week in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)
“We have stepped up our security and are closely working with the police to prevent terrorism or bombing in Zamboanga City,” Army Colonel Santiago Baluyot, commander of an anti-terror task force, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Zamboanga City, which had been previously bombed by Abu Sayyaf militants, is currently celebrating the weeklong Hermosa Festival in honor of the Virgin Mary locally known as “Our Lady of the Pilar,” its patron saint.
A regional military commander, Marine Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, said they would launch Monday a new “hotline” that would allow citizens to send text messages from their cell phones or inform authorities about suspicious persons or information that could prevent terrorism.
“We are going to launch this on Monday so citizens can easily and quickly provide information through SMS (short message system) from their cell phones,” Dolorfino said in a separate interview.
Aside from the new hotline number, police also have telephone numbers 166 and 117 posted in many areas in Zamboanga City where citizens can call at anytime in case of an emergency similar to 911 in the United States.However, some of the hotlines were wrongly printed and instead of 166, the police line is written as 116.
Government forces are battling Moro rebels since last month in the province and had already killed at least 45 gunmen and soldiers, including two members of the US Special Forces.
The Bangsamoro National Liberation Army warned of more attacks against the military and civilian targets in the Philippines in retaliation to the continued government offensive against rebels in Sulu province.
The shadowy group, an ally of the Moro National Liberation Front, has claimed responsibility for the September 29 roadside bombing in Sulu that killed US soldiers Sergeant First Class Christopher D. Shaw of Markham, Illinois, 37; and Staff Sergeant Jack M. Martin III of Bethany, Oklahoma, 26.
Madarang Sali, BNLA deputy supreme commander, rebel forces have declared a holy war against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine government.
Sali, also the spokesman for the Bangsamoro Federated States of Sulu Archipelago, said US forces were involved in the Philippine military offensive against the rebel forces.
He said the BNLA is headed by Lieutenant General Abdulnasser Iskandar, while the MNLF are under the command of Ustadz Habier Malik, Khaid Ajibun and Tahil Usman.
Sali said only 10 MNLF rebels were killed in the fighting – seven under Malik and three more under the command of Ajibun. He warned of more attacks against US troops if they continue participating in combat operations in Sulu.
Dolorfino said troops were tracking down at least four most senior Abu Sayyaf leaders – Dr Abu, Albader Parad, Isnilon Hapilon and Yasser Igasan – including two foreign Jemaah Islamiya terrorists Mauiya and Quayem and some 200 followers.
But the killing of the two US Special Forces soldiers further bolstered suspicions that American troops joined counterterrorism operations in Sulu where 42 militants and soldiers were killed in recent clashes in Indanan town.
Sali said only 10 MNLF rebels were killed in the fighting – seven under Malik and three more under the command of Ajibun. He warned of more attacks against US troops if they continue participating in combat operations in Sulu.
US troops have been are deployed in Sulu since 2006 and assisting the Philippine military in defeating the Abu Sayyaf. Although security officials deny US forces were directly involved in combat operations, there were numerous reports from civilians and various civil groups that American soldiers actually participated in the operations aimed at capturing or killing militant leaders in Sulu and other parts of Mindanao.
The MNLF signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, but many of its members were disgruntled with the accord and accused the government of failing to uplift their living standards. Sali last week said the military offensive targeted the MNLF in Sulu. He said Ajibun escaped a military raid last week in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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