Security forces are keeping an eye out against security threats, including possible retaliation by allies of Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan who was killed during an operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Mamasapano town last month, a Palace official said Sunday.
“Patuloy ang mahigpit na pagmamanman at pagbabantay ng ating mga security authorities sa anumang banta sa seguridad ng buong bansa, kabilang na po rito ang Sandatahang Lakas, Pambansang Kapulisan, NBI at iba pang bahagi ng ating security authorities,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on government-run dzRB.
“Nananatiling naka-alerto ang buong Sandatahang Lakas at ang Pambansang Pulisya upang mapangalagaan ang katahimikan at kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan,” Coloma added.
According to a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras,” two of Marwan’s students tried to detonate a bomb in Pikit, North Cotabato two days after the SAF reportedly killed Marwan during the Jan. 25 operation.
The elite police commandos went to Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last month to serve arrest warrants on Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman.
Security forces are hunting down Usman, who managed to escape during a clash between SAF troopers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups.
‘Destabilization plots’
“Lahat naman ng mga ulat hinggil sa destabilisasyon o ‘yung mga tangka ng iba’t ibang pangkat o indibidwal o mga ulat hinggil dito, ‘yan naman po ay binibigyan ng karampatang atensyon at pinag-aaralan upang magawan ng nararapat na pagkilos ng ating mga awtoridad,” Coloma said.
Talk of coup plots spread after the Mamasapano operation resulted in the death of 44 elite police commandos. The MILF claimed 18 of its fighters died in the firefight.
Some Roman Catholic bishops and militant groups called for President Benigno Aquino III to step down because of the incident that has cast a shadow on the ongoing peace process between the government and the MILF.
Malacañang has said Aquino will not heed calls for him to resign over the botched operation in Mamasapano.
The Senate and House of Representatives are conducting separate inquiries on the bloody clash.
