Bohol on alert; Muslim men in 3 boats seen off Siquijor island

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Bohol security forces have raised the alert level in the province after they received a confirmed report about unidentified Muslim men—aboard three big pump boats—were spotted sailing in the sea waters off Siquijor province last Friday night and even had a brief chat with a fisherman in another boat.

Senior Inspector Jojit Mananquil, of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) based in Camp Dagohoy, told The Freeman yesterday that the police have alerted local government units located along Bohol's coastal areas about the possible entry of unfamiliar individuals from Mindanao.

"Although we are still verifying the report, we have also alerted the Navy and the Coast Guard concerning the sighting of a group of Muslim men," Mananquil said. "As of today, wala pa nato makit-i ang maong mga bangka," he said.

Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal, intelligence division chief at the Police Regional Office-7, also told The Freeman yesterday they are still verifying the intelligence report, which was first leaked to The Bohol Tribune, a weekly newspaper in Bohol.

According to the leaked report, a fisherman in Siquijor claimed that at about 10 p.m. Friday he saw a group of around 50 men, believed to be Muslims, aboard three big motorized boats sailing in the seawaters off Barangay Catulayan of San Juan town in Siquijor province.

The report said the Muslim men had engaged the fisherman in a brief conversation, and asked him if a "patrol car" will pass by Barangay Catulayan. The Freeman is withholding the name of the fisherman for security reasons.

Later, the three boats reportedly sailed away, heading toward the direction of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. But the Siquijor Police Provincial Office had warned that the boats might also proceed to Cebu or Bohol.

The intel report came at a time when the government continues to wage a daily bloody battle against ISIS-backed Maute terrorists who have been trying to control Marawi City since last May 23.

It also did not indicate whether the men spotted off Siquijor sea waters were armed, or possible members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), who infiltrated Bohol in April this year, but were eventually killed by government troops after hot pursuit operations. (FREEMAN)