Cops recover 400 shells in Bohol encounters

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Crime Laboratory-7 has recovered more or less 400 empty shells of different firearms used during the gunfight between government troops and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the towns of Inabanga and Clarin, Bohol.

Superintendent Romer Daguno said the empty shells from various artilleries has sizes around 5.56 millimeters and 7.62 millimeters, and are now under the custody of their laboratory to sort out which firearms were used by the rebel group and government forces.

“We will subject these pieces of evidence to appropriate laboratory examination.  Unang buhaton sa atong examiners are to sort out and determine how many firearms were involved. Second, we will bring these shells to the national headquarters (Camp Crame)didto sa atong database para mae-register,” Daguno told reporters.

After sending it to their main crime laboratory and if results are available, Daguno said they will see if the bullets spent in separate encounters were the same live ammunition rounds used in other areas.

“And then maybe later on, makita didto kung kani bang mga bala nga nagamit sa Bohol was nagamit didto sa ubang lugar, like for example in Mindanao or in other areas,” he added.

After the two clashes in Clarin and Inabanga, Daguno said they have yet to identify the four dead bodies recovered from separate areas.

In the Inabanga clash last April 11, only one body remains to be identified, since the three bodies were identified to be that of ASG leader Maumar Askali or Abu Rami and two civilians Constantina, 68, and Constancio Petalco.

The Petalco couple failed to leave their house due to their age and health problems and were reportedly killed in the crossfire between the joint forces of the military and police against ASG.

Three days after, the Inabanga Police Station reportedly found a body buried in the town’s Barangay Lonay Cainsican, which was already in a state of decomposition.

Based on the accounts from one of the residents in the said barangay, it was the ASG who buried their dead comrade in the area.

Another four dead bodies were retrieved in Clarin encounter on April 22 but only ASG guide Joselito Melloria or Abu Alih was positively identified by his family and police.

Daguno, however, said that they have gathered several samples from the dead bodies in case their families will claim them.

“In identifying cadavers, ang atong procedure nga gibuhat ana was we took their buccal swab, blood samples, post-mortem or finger prints, and photographs. Now, kung pananglitan nga naa’y gusto i-identify siya, or family na mo-claim nga kani, si mao ni, then we confirm it through DNA or other means nga makuha nato sa specimen,” Daguno added.

Married couple

In another development, Police Regional Office-7 Regional Director Noli Taliño said that Superintendent Maria Cristina Nobleza, deputy regional director of Philippine National Police in Davao, and Abu Sayyaf member Reenor Lou Dongon, who has ties with Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani and renowned jihadist Marwan, admitted they are married.

He said Nobleza’s affiliation to Abu Sayyaf Group will also be investigated to verify if she is a part of Abu Sayyaf, while being an active police officer.

Both suspects, who were transferred to Camp Crame last Tuesday, denied the allegations of a rescue operation and claimed they were only dropping off medical supplies based on texts they received from one unidentified ASG member who is still hunted in Bohol.

“Accordingly itatapon lang daw yung gamot, pero syempre hindi naman tayo naniniwala don,” Taliño said.

Their other two companions, Judith Dongon and a 13-year-old boy, are still in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bohol.

The police believe Nobleza and Dongon were not only at the location for a rescue, but also for possible terror attacks in the recently concluded ASEAN Trade Ministers Meeting held last April19-22.

This, after the police recovered components in making an improvised explosive device, a C-4, high-yield chemical explosive, detonating cord, blasting cap and blasting kit alongside Nobleza’s personal belongings that was turned over by the owner of the apartment in Barangay Looc, Panglao town where the couple were staying.

“There may be other motives na pwedeng maaring mangyari, kung bakit nanduon sila sa Panglao at Clarin area. Well definitely terrorism, terroristic activity of course, sa bombing, sa kidnapping is another motive,” Taliño said.

Taliño added the C-4 recovered is a military-grade item and the investigating team will look into the details, whether it was a recycled evidence from the Crime Laboratory where Nobleza was assigned.

Initial investigations revealed that the four took a RORO (roll-on, roll-off) vessel traversing from Mindanao to Leyte, and then to Bohol.

Taliño said their movements were not specifically monitored by the police despite intelligence reports before and during provided by inter-agency efforts of law enforcers and local government units in Bohol.

“Kung nalaman na mas maaga na sila nga yon, siguro mas dodoon pa lang sa pinanggalingan nila, naagapan na,” Taliño said.

He said that through the vigilance of the community and the brisk response of law enforcers, a possible terrorist act was prevented.

“Ang maganda dito we were able to abort their intention.  Whatever that is, na-abort yun,” Taliño said.

Suicide act

He added that the terrorism attempt of the ASG members is an act of suicide as they have not considered the security preparations and uncooperative locals, unlike in their base located in other regions.

“Suicide ang ginawa nila dito. Akala siguro nila, pareha duon sa Jolo, na pinanggalingan nila, na kahit saan sila pumunta meron silang  pwedeng maging supporter,” Taliño said.

He added that the efficient management of the two clashes in Inabanga and Clarin towns in Bohol will serve as a lesson for any militant parties who may attempt to infiltrate the coasts of Central Visayas.

“Ito ay lesson learned sa kanila na dito sa Central Visayas, hindi sila pwede dito. At kukuyugin sila,” Taliño said.

Security in coastal and port areas is constantly monitored as Taliño alerted the Marines, Coast Guard and Navy to look out for suspicious looking persons, which may have a link to any militant group.

“At ang pinaka-importante na security dito ay yung personal security.  Dapat alam ninyo kung ano nangyayari sa inyong paligid. Report all suspicious meetings, events and suspicious looking person sa ganun ay ma-check natin,” Taliño said.

ASEAN meeting peaceful

Meanwhile, there were no untoward incidents recorded during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trade ministers meeting, from April 19 to April 22 in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Taliño said the ASEAN meetings in Panglao, Bohol was peaceful and no unfortunate incidents were reported in relation to the said activity.

“Talagang zero ang incidents doon sa ASEAN sa Bohol. Kahit minor incidents wala tayong na receive na information,” he said.

From April 3 to 7, the ASEAN Summit in Cebu was also generally peaceful since the 21 agencies including the Bureau of Fire and Protection, more than 5,000 PNP personnel and Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as the local government units, participated in securing the event.

Taliño thanked the support from the same number of agencies in preserving the peace and order in Panglao, despite the attacks from suspected Abu Sayyaf Group in the towns of Inabanga and Clarin.

He said the recent clashes in the mentioned towns did not affect the ASEAN meetings in Panglao.

“Hindi nakaapekto doon sa ASEAN,” Taliño said, referring to the presence of the rebel group.

Around 88 delegates attended the ASEAN meeting but there are also delegates that did not attend that particular activity, which was “normal” according to its national organizing council, said Taliño.  — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, Mae Clydyl L. Avila (FREEMAN)