Alert Up in GenSan, Nearby Areas After Tambako’s Arrest

General Santos City (PNA) — Authorities raised the security alert in this city and the neighboring areas following the capture on Sunday night of a former ranking leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and four of his men.

The Police Regional Office 12 and the Army’s 1002nd Brigade placed all their units in the area under heightened alert in the wake of possible retaliatory terror attacks from supporters and followers of former BIFF vice chair Ustadz Mohammad Ali Tambako, who was arrested in Barangay Calumpang here along with four of his men.

Supt. Rolly Octavio, deputy city police director for administration, said Tuesday they increased their presence in various strategic areas in the city in a bid to thwart any movement of Tambako’s group.

He said they also intensified their intelligence monitoring and related security operations for the presence of Tambako’s other followers in the area.

“We’ve set up additional checkpoints to properly monitor people who are entering and leaving the city,” Octavio said.

On Monday, police operatives recovered several bomb-making materials in a raid on a house in Dona Soledad Subdivision in Barangay Labangal that was previously rented by Tambako, who was tagged as the founder of supposed BIFF splinter group Justice for Islam Movement.

The raiding team led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 12 specifically found detonating cords, improvised circuit boxes, blasting caps, blasting powder, switches and batteries.

The team raided another house in the same village that was supposedly rented earlier Tambako but it yielded negative.

“We mainly foiled their plan to stage terrorist attacks in the city with their arrest,” a police official said.

Meantime, Lt. Col. Ronald Jess Alcudia, commander of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, said they are closely monitoring parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani Provinces for possible movements of Tambako’s group.

He said they specifically stepped up their security operations in the municipalities of Maitum, Kiamba and Maasim in Sarangani.

The hinterlands of Maasim in Sarangani Province is a known entry and escape route of armed groups, among them the BIFF, operating in the province and nearby areas in the past several years.

The BIFF had staged several attacks in the Maasim town in the last three years and used upland villages as escape route.

“We’re currently on high alert as it (Tambako’s arrest) could lead to retaliatory attacks in our area of responsibility,” he said in a radio interview.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said the provincial government is also monitoring closely the area’s security situation in the wake of Tambako’s capture.

The governor said she temporarily cancelled her trips outside the province due to the volatile situation. (PNA) FFC/AVE