Best Posts in Thread: Negros on heightened alert

Dave & Imp · 14 Apr 2017

Here is an article that I found... is it fake news ??? or just propaganda. Note article is dated April 12, Seems the resort owners are not showing any tourist downside according to the article, but it is admitted that the government is concerned about negative publicity. Is the the same government run by President Duterte who is always ranting about about foreigners except his ancestors from China? :

Philippines says militants on the run on tourist island
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Ayee Macaraig
AFP NewsApril 12, 2017

View photos
A soldiers runs after retrieving the rifle of a colleague after clashes with militants on Bohol island
The Philippines military said Wednesday it was on the trail of five Islamic militants who are on the run after landing on a tourist island, triggering clashes with security forces that claimed 10 lives.

The military chief said six Abu Sayyaf gunmen had been killed, among a group of 11 that arrived in Bohol by boat from their southern base of Jolo island, about 500 kilometres (300 miles) away.

The government lost three soldiers and a policeman in the battle that broke out Tuesday in a rural area of Bohol -- one of the country's top tourism draws.

Local officials said the armed men sailed upriver Monday through the island, raising fears they were there to kidnap foreign visitors travelling for the Easter holidays.

The Abu Sayyaf, made up of several hundred Filipino Muslim militants, is notorious for kidnappings, beheadings and deadly bombings. Its leaders have also pledged allegiance to Islamic State gunmen in Iraq and Syria.

Philippine military chief General Eduardo Ano said the five remaining fighters had fled after an overnight siege near a remote village. Officials said helicopter gunships were used to bomb the militants.

"They are on the run. They have left their belongings (behind)," Ano told a press conference.

"We already have leads on the direction of their escape. They cannot fight as a potent force like before. They are all running for their lives."

Ano said security forces had killed a key Abu Sayyaf leader known by his alias Abu Rahmi. The claim could not be independently confirmed.

He said Abu Rahmi was behind several kidnappings including a 2015 raid on the southern island resort of Samal in which four tourists -- two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina -- were snatched.

The two Canadian men were beheaded last year after their families and their government failed to pay ransom, while the Norwegian man and the Filipina were later freed unharmed.

- Tourism fallout? -

As the government moved to contain the fallout on tourism, Ano said the military would repel similar incursions.

"The Abu Sayyaf must think twice, our security forces (are) working... effectively as they thwarted their plans to sow terror in the area," he said.

Just days before the raid the US and Australian governments warned their citizens about potential "terrorist" kidnappings on Bohol and neighbouring Cebu island, also a major tourist destination.

Residents said they saw 10 gunmen on three fast boats sailing upriver to a farming region planted with palm oil and corn.

Authorities said some 100 residents fled the fighting. Hoteliers and visitors told AFP the incident has not affected tourist traffic on the island as yet, though there was increased police security.

Bohol bills itself as a tropical paradise sought after by foreign tourists who go there to swim with docile whale sharks, travel its rivers on boat cruises, and lounge on unspoiled beaches.

- Hostages, ransoms -

Zachary Abuza, a Southeast Asian security expert at the National War College in the United States, told AFP the Abu Sayyaf likely sent its gunmen to Bohol "to kidnap and sow panic".

"If successful, the raid could have given them additional hostages, and potentially ransoms," he said.

"More importantly, it would undermine confidence in the government, and force (President Rodrigo Duterte) to redeploy forces to what were previously thought of as safe regions."

Over the past year the Abu Sayyaf has been expanding its activities from its main Jolo base in the south where the military has been waging an offensive in recent months.

Its boat-riding gunmen have been boarding commercial and fishing vessels and abducting dozens of foreign crew members.

Abuza said it was not the first time the Abu Sayyaf had staged long-range kidnapping raids, having regularly done so in Malaysian Sabah.

"They clearly benefit from the woefully inadequate maritime capabilities of the Philippine navy and coast guard ... The amount of territory is very large, and these guys are moving on very small fast craft that blend in."

Philippines says militants on the run on tourist island
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mntnwolf · 13 Apr 2017

Well OK that's as I expected; she still claims it's true that 3 men were arrested on at least *suspected* terrorism grounds, but as there is no report any of us can see by 24 hours later, I guess nothing serious has occurred in our fair burg.

I found it amazing and disturbing that Abu Sayef would feel strong, bold & confident enough to stage a major attack so far from Sulu / Jolo, with several boats and many fighters -- quite a move to attempt! But then it's difficult to believe that they could ALSO stage a simultaneous attack at another area, fairly far -- doubling their logistics, required equipment & men, and risk -- doesn't make sense. So it's easy for me to believe that they did NOT try anything in Dumaguete yesterday.... Although in the future, everything from Sipalay down to Siaton and up thru Dauin must be considered vulnerable to such a raid... :-(

On the bright side, it's a blessing that the Phil Army fought these guys off effectively and nobody was kidnapped or bombed by them -- and that the evil leader of this gang was killed by the troops! Roast in Hell, mofo.....

DavyL200 · 12 Apr 2017

Cerne skrev: ↑

Agree...but I live on 'crime free' (lol) Siquijor...so in my memory this was the first time the island was mentioned. I remember the alerts for Negros and Southern Cebu well enough. I'm rationalising atm "it'll be ok, it will happen on the tourist side of the island if at all. I'll be ok, I have a good rep' with the locals, they'll alert me if trouble comes calling etc etc"

bit of a flap on now, am getting reports of a gun battle on Bohol. Locally an unidentified pump boat was found in Lazi Siquijor....it seems the police are evacuating all resorts on the island - at least that's what I am being told. Loads of police driving to and fro outside - might just be a fuss about nothing. I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Not in tablets of stone folks....all I know is that there's tons of cops milling about the island.
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Just been intouch with a friend on siquijor,seems all is well there and no evac of resorts but pnp are going around warning everyone.

Rye83 · 10 Apr 2017

DavyL200 skrev: ↑

Ramacho made it clear these are all part of the nationwide implementation of Oplan Ligtas Biyahe for the Lenten season
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Umm, no. They clearly stated it is because a group of imbred Muzzy jungle-monkeys were spotted in the vicinity of the province of Siquijor earlier this week.

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