PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa said Monday, February 26, that all the major cities particularly in Mindanao are at risk of another terrorist attack similar to the Marawi siege.
“Well, all the major key cities in Mindanao are candidate to become Marawi (siege) part 2,” he said in a press conference.
As a preventive measure and in order to prepare their men for similar terror attacks, the PNP is conducting simulation exercises in all its units.
He said it is now ongoing at the police station in Davao and it will be replicated in all other police stations nationwide.
Aside from preparing their men, Dela Rosa said they will also have to focus on hindering the recruitment of terror groups, particularly in the Mindanao area.
“Saan ba sila kukuha ng pwersa kung wala silang recruitment hindi ba? So magre-recruit sila para magkaroon ng pwersa then kapag enough na ‘yung forces nila to mount another siege then baka gagawa sila ng Marawi part 2,” he said.
“So from recruitment dapat na-aaddress na natin yun, hindi sila makapagrecruit para wala na pwersa magamit,” he added.
Dela Rosa said they were verifying reports of ongoing recruitment by terrorist groups, particularly in the province of Lanao del Sur.
He noted, however, that staging an attack similar to what happened in Marawi City is not easy.
“It will take some time. Large scale attack like Marawi will take months or years in the making bago yan magawa. Ang binabantayan na lang natin ngayon ‘yung threat na manggagaling doon sa mga naiwang myembro ng Maute Isis, ‘yung mga pocket attacks, lone wolf attacks, yan ang babantayan natin dahil madali lang carry out yan,” he said.
“Pero ‘yung large scale attack like Marawi siege, medyo mahirapan pa sila ngayon,” he added.
A large part of Marawi was taken over the Maute Group, which was seeking recognition from the global terror group Islamic State (IS). Fighting erupted on May 23, 2017 and lasted for five months until October 23, 2017.
The entire Mindanao was placed under martial soon after the conflict broke out. Martial law has been extended until December 31, 2018 in a bid to wipe out all terror and armed groups operating in Mindanao.
The armed conflict in Marawi left the city in ruins and forced its residents to evacuate. Repair and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing. (VoxPop Philippines)
