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| Southeast Asia |
| Cops still on alert for terror threats |
| 2008-03-20 |
| THE threat posed by suspected Jemaah Islamiyah bomber Mohamad Baehaqi on Davao City and on its tourist spots is far from over even though he has already been arrested last February 17. Tourist spots in and around Davao City have been placed on heightened alert by police and military officials, especially with tourists and locals expected to flock to the beaches and resorts around Davao City and Samal Island for the long Holy Week holiday. In an interview Wednesday with Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, regional police director, he said one of the major considerations of the region's security officials was the admission of Baehaqi on his group's plan to perpetrate acts of terror on the beach resorts and even in the urban area of Davao City. Adding to the woes of the police and military was the discovery of the presence of alleged 'cohorts' of Baehaqi in the region. They might be capable of perpetrating the planned terror attacks in Southern Mindanao. "He still has his cohorts in the region and the military and police are investigating them," Caro said. "I cannot say anything else beyond that," Caro added. Caro added that they have deployed additional forces to man the security of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal, the Davao International Airport, the Sasa Wharf, and even the Sta. Ana Pier. However, Caro was quick to add that there is no direct threat on the city yet. Baehaqi was arrested by military and police operatives last February 17, in a sleepy town in Davao Oriental, and he was allegedly planning to bomb a regional sportsfest conducted in the neighboring town of Mati. During the tactical interrogation, Baehaqi admitted to planning terror attacks in Southern Mindanao, especially on beach resorts and urban centers. |
| Posted by:Fred |