DAVAO CITY, Aug 8 (PIA) President Benigno Simeon Aquino III bared that challenges on the stability of peace and order exist, despite the gains of the ongoing peace process between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Speaking during the 22nd Mindanao Business Conference held at the SMX Lanang Convention Center, he said the recent blasts that hit cities Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and Midsayap, North Cotabato and other areas in Central Mindanao affected not only the immediate areas but throughout the country.
Aquino said the blasts were perpetrated by small groups of people desperate to disrupt the attainment of peace in Mindanao.
As he expressed sympathy to the families of the victims of the blasts, the president warned the perpetrators that the arm of the law will eventually reach them.
“To those willing to partner with us for peace, we welcome you as brothers. But to those who want to challenge the authority of the state, you will feel the full brunt, might and strength of the state’s response. You will not in the way of peace that will help fulfill the potentials of Mindanao,” Aquino said.
During the press briefing, the president identified the Abu Sayyaf Group as one of the groups disrupting the peace and order in Mindanao.
He said government forces continue to conduct operations against this group, citing successes in the effort with the neutralization of Dr. Abu in 2012.
The President declined to provide more information on the ongoing investigation on the blasts in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato.
However, he mulled of giving rewards to individuals who can provide information that will lead to the arrests of the perpetrators behind the latest bombing incidents Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato.
Aquino said one of the angles being pursued by authorities is the possible involvement of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the blasts in order to lessen the ongoing follow-up military operation against them.
“Basically, mayroong mga threat groups na nagsama-sama dahil nga to a large degree, lumiit ang capacities nila.
Tatlong grupo ang aming tinitingnan na medyo dati ay may pagka-loose ang kanilang samahan. Tila ngayon ay lalong nagsama-sama at desperado na mahadlang an gating proseso ng pagkakaroon ng kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao,” (There are threat groups which are combining because to a large degree their capacities have become smaller, we are looking at three groups which are loosely allied, but as of now they have become closer together and are desperate to stop our peace process here in Mindanao.) he said.
Aquino has tasked the security sector to continue hardening of the probable target areas.
In his assessment, he said terror groups might exploit freedom and other rights guaranteed in the constitution like movement, assembly and the like.
Aquino said these groups had been aspiring for long to conduct terror attacks.
“As to the capability, there seems to be no change as to the assessment where they are able to undertake their operations,” he said.
The president said that there are persistent reports that the terror groups want to hit Davao.
However, he observed that the terrorists seem to evade Davao City attributing to the tight security of the city and the good governance of the city government.
“It is a good deterrent. However, wherever we do target hardening, terror groups also look for other soft targets,” Aquino said.
He appealed to the citizens to cooperate as force-multipliers of the security service by providing information in detecting suspicious individuals or activities.
Earlier, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte mulled of scrapping the Kadayawan Festival for security reasons following the deadly blasts in Cagayan de Oro City and Cotabato City.
He gave the security sector up to August 13 to come up with a clearer picture on the security situation of the city.
“We will proceed with the festivities if the security forces with a rating of 7.5 in a scale of one to ten, can guarantee the safety of the residents and visitors,” Duterte said.
He cited the primacy of the lives of the residents for the possible cancellation of the Kadayawan Festival. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
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