On social media: Bohol police unfazed by negative remarks

CEBU, Philippines - Bohol Provincial Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Felipe Natividad said that negative comments from social media have not affected their operations against the remaining Abu Sayyaf members in Bohol.

“Okay lang naman actually, sabi ko sa kanila, magtrabaho lang tayo, you don’t want this group (Abu Sayyaf members) to be here. Yun di ang gusto ng tao eh, kung baga we are just doing what the people want,” Natividad said.

Some of the comments from The FREEMAN’s public page post regarding the capture and death of Saad Samad Kiram involved conspiracy theories of public officials financing the Abu Sayyaf attacking forces in Bohol, and, demoralizing comments such as “palpak” and “cover-up.”

“It’s not the intention ng mga pwersa nga gobyerno. We are solving the problem, instead of encouraging nagkakaroon pa tayo…medyo nakakalungkot, but that’s part of it,” Natividad said.

He said that they have nothing to worry about since personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are doing their best to make Bohol insurgency-free once again.

Natividad also lauded communities in Bohol as they continue to report sightings of suspected Abu Sayyaf members who have continued to evade capture.

“Mas maganda na they are aware since they are assisting us in providing information mas madali natin silang nasusundan. Kami, pag may nagbibigay ng information tatakbo kami,” Natividad said.

Earlier, 11 Abu Sayyaf members clashed with government forces in Inabanga. Four died in the clash including leader Maumar Askali alias Abu Rami.

Another four died in the second clash in Clarin, including local militant guide Joselito Melloria.

Kiram, 36, who was captured in Barangay Tanawan, Tubigon town a few days ago, was shot dead on the way to Bohol Provincial Jail in Tagbilaran City, when he allegedly tried to grab the firearm of his a police escort, prompting the cop to shoot him in self-defense.

Kiram was killed instantly due to gunshot wound to the head, prompting Commission on Human Rights-7 to conduct an investigation.

The 302nd Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside other local government forces are on alert for the capture of remaining militant members, identified only as alias Asis and alias Ubayda.

Meanwhile, results from the forensic examination on the cellphone recovered from Police Superintendent Maria Cristina Nobleza contained traces of what could serve as proof of her affiliation to the Abu Sayyaf group.

One of the videos found in her phone, depicted what looked-like a minor, shooting a Syrian hostage to death. Also found on the phone was an inspirational message from Osama Bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda who was responsible for terror attacks across the globe.

“We saw how children were groomed to become members of the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). The children were really brainwashed and trained to become combatants,” said Superintendent Royina Marzan Garma, head of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region (CIDG) -7.

According to Garma, the evidence collated from Nobleza's phone is enough evidence to file charges for violations against Anti-Terrorist Act, to be added to pending charges of illegal-possession of firearms and harboring of criminals.

Nobleza and husband in Muslim rites, Reneer Lou Dongon, were intercepted at a checkpoint in Barangay Bacani, Clarin town.

It was later discovered that among the couple's intentions was to rescue remaining Abu Sayyaf members who survived two clashes and also to allegedly sow terror attacks as policemen confiscated components for making improvised explosives.

Meanwhile, Colonel Medel Aguilar, the assistant chief of unified Civic Military Operations of Armed Forces of the Philippines - Central Command (CentCom), assured that there was transparency in the turnover of the P1.1 million reward to the informants of the whereabouts of the Abu Sayyaf rebels in Clarin.

Aguilar said the giving of reward was witnessed by local government officials, including Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto.

"Transparent ang pagbibigay ng reward doon sa mga informants. Ang sinasabi ko dito ay informants kasi hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa at tatlo. Siyempre may proseso ang pagbibigay and at the same time, ito ay may witness nung pagbigay mismo. Nandoon mismo si Governor Chatto," Aguilar said.

Aguilar added that they cannot give any hints on the identities of the informants for security reasons as they might become subjects to revenge. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila with Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)