PNP to validate IS plot to attack Northern Luzon – Albayalde
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:06:22 +0000
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said on Tuesday that the PNP would validate intelligence reports on the alleged plot by the Islamic State (IS) to attack Northern Luzon.
“Well. It depends. It will be validated, kung may basehan o basis pwede tayong magtaas ng alert, [Well, it depends. It will be validated, if there’s basis, we can raise the alert],” Albayalde said in a press briefing.
The PNP chief said the reports were subject to confirmation, saying that the terrorist group is targeting churches to divide the Catholic and Islam believers.
“ISIS are targeting churches, like in Cebu yan na tinatarget ngayon dahil yung matao ang gusto nila mag create ng away rito you know between Catholics and ,Muslim, isa yan wag tayong magpadala diyan kasi yan ang gsto nila na mag-away, [ IS are targeting churches, like in Cebu, those are their targets because these are crowded. They want to create conflicts between Catholics and Muslims, we must not ]be victimized by it, because that is what they want, for us to fight each other, ” Albayalde said.
After validating the reports, PNP chief said, vigilance should be maintained and intelligence strengthened through police intervention such as setting up checkpoints as a deterrent to the plan of the terrorist group.
The Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) is also validating reports by the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) that the IS is eyeing historic Catholic churches in Laoag City, Vigan City, Manaoag, Pangasinan and Tuguegarao City. DARWIN PESCO