Joint PNP, AFP probe on Sayyaf 'member'

CEBU, Philippines — A joint investigation will be conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on suspected Abu Sayyaf member Oger Roma Pelonio to validate his alleged link with the terrorist group.

AFP-Central Command spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said a joint investigation is important to come up with a comprehensive and clear analysis of information. He said the military and the police will exchange intelligence information.

“It is a mechanism between two security forces and it has been there (Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (RJPSCC). Importante ito dahil sa pag-integrate ng information iyung collaboration ay nagkaroon tayo ng mas malinaw at mas komprehensibo na analysis,” Aguilar said.

“This also gives us what the PNP knows and  alam din nila ang ano ang nalalaman namin and with the collaboration of these two agencies somehow mas clear ang information,” he added.

Pelonio, 69, a native of Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao, was arrested Thursday morning by the operatives of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) -7 on strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Gilbert Moises of Regional Trial Court Branch 18 in Cebu City for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The police recovered from his rented house in Barangay Ocaña, Carcar City two caliber .45 pistol loaded with ammunition; one caliber .38 revolver; two rifle grenades; a fragmentation grenade; a suspected C4 explosive; five cellular phones; and several subversive documents.

Aguilar said they are conducting verification and deeper investigation to look into Pelenio’s possible companions in Cebu. Based on intelligence report from the police, Pelonio is tagged as member of the Abu Sayyaf bandit. He, however, denied it.

Pelonio’s arrest came on the heels of an advisory from the United Kingdom warning its citizens from travelling to southern towns of Cebu because of alleged terrorist threats. Aguilar said the tourists and the public in general has nothing to worry about because the AFP is on top of the situation.

He said even before the travel advisory they have already deployed security forces in all possible entry and exit points of lawless elements after the bombing incident in Mindanao. Aguilar, however, said the public should continue to be vigilant because Cebu remains to be a possible target.

“We let the people to be vigilant not because there is an imminent threat but because we remained as the target. The threat level remains at level 2 because you know if something happens in Cebu, it would be a big impact and we don’t want that to happen.”—  FPL (FREEMAN)