Security authorities on alert amid threats from Marwan’s sympathizers — Palace

Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan

MANILA  – The country’s security authorities continued to be on alert to maintain peace and safety of the people amid threats from followers of killed international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan to sow terror as act of revenge.

”Our security authorities continued to be on alert against any threat to national security,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.

Coloma said Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and other security authorities remain vigilant against possible bombing attacks from Marwan’s sympathizers.

Based on the initial results of the DNA tests, Marwan was killed in an ‘Oplan Exodus’ carried out by the Special Action Forces (SAF) team from the PNP on January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The operation against the Malaysian bomb expert, however, proved costly on the part of the PNP after 44 of the 392 SAF troopers were also killed after they encountered the combined forces of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

BIFF commander Basit Usman, the second target of the operation, was able to escape .

Marwan and Usman have been wanted since 2002 with Marwan listed by the US as one of the top terrorists who was the prime suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 innocents civilians and wounded 209 others.

Marwan was likewise wanted by the Malaysian government for the killing of a Christian member of their Parliament in 2000, which was an attack backed by the fallen terrorist Osama Bin Laden of Al-Queda.

Relieved SAF chief Police Director Getulio Napenas said they received reports that Marwan’s militant activity in Mindanao may have trained up 300 terrorists in explosive use, detonation and building.

Napenas also said in a recent Senate investigation they also received reports that not less than 30 of Marwan’s students are roaming around Central Mindanao “ready, willing and able to create widespread fear, terror and panic in our country.”