Zamboanga City must intensify security amid Mundi Sawadjaan, 2 foreigners' plan to 'sow terror'

Published August 31, 2020 03:57 PM By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA News

A security analyst on Monday warned that security measures in Zamboanga City must be intensified following the information that Mundi Sawadjaan and other terrorists are "sent out for a mission to sow terror in Zamboanga Peninsula."

"Zamboanga City is under continuing threat kasi target talaga nila ang Zamboanga City, considering Zamboanga City is also composed of Christian population kasi 'yung mga violent extremists ng ISIS, they really want to target the area with the Christian population," Dr. Rommel Banlaoi said in a forum.

"There is a basis for that anxiety. I think Zamboanga City has to boost its security preparation in order to prevent any untoward incident to happen. Talagang target talaga 'yan," he added.

Banlaoi believes that the group operating in Zamboanga City is that of Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf Group leader Furuji Indama.

Over the weekend, Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco bared that the national government is offering a P3-million reward

for anyone who will provide information which will lead to the arrest of Mundi and two Indonesian terrorists, identified as Andi Baso and Reski Fantasya, also known as Cici.

Joint Task Force Zamboanga commander Colonel Antonio John Divinagracia told GMA News Online that the military has not monitored any movement of Sawadjaan and the two foreigners in the area.

"Wala po kaming confirmation... wala po. Even sa Sulu po, wala rin pong confirmation," Divinagracia said in a phone interview.

Divinagracia said Climaco's information that the three individuals are allegedly planning to attack Zamboanga City came from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

Divinagracia, meanwhile, assured the public that they have enough forces to secure Zamboanga.

"Marami tayong checkpoints, patrols tapos sa city mayroon po 'yun. Dito po talaga 'yung pinakatarget nila sa Region IX so matagal na rin sila binabantayan," he said.

The military earlier said that Mundi was the mastermind in the twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu, that left 15 people dead and over 70 others injured.—AOL, GMA News

View on GMA News