As Boholanos are on a festive mood preparing for their respective town fiesta celebrations this month of May, the recent incidents involving the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) proved that terrorists will never thrive in this peace-loving province which continues to welcome tourists being one of the country’s prime destinations. 

This very “unwelcome gesture” of the Boholanos towards the ASG was shown on Day 1 when the landing of firearms in barangay Napo, Inabanga last April 16 was leaked to the authorities through a text ,message which reported that some ammunition were dried up in the rice field. Likewise, the attempt to rescue the remaining three terrorists also failed when the Navarra driven by an alleged Abu bomber Reenor Lou Dungo together with Police Supt. Maria Cristinba Nobleza was intercepted at a police checkpoint in Clarin town last April 22.

The successful blocking of the ASG’s attempt to do kidnapping and bombing operations here generated commendations from the cross-section of the community extended to the police, the military and alert local government units who in unison had their eyes and ears closely monitored the movement of the ASG during the past 15 days.

The government and private sectors issued yesterday a public advisory declaring Bohol as “very peaceful and free from threats coming from the ASG whose attempt to mount terroristic activities were aborted by the police and the military.”

PNP Prov’l Director Felipe Natividad during an interview with the Chronicle last night said authorities are following leads which could confirm reports that one of the three ASG members could have perished amidst hunger while the other is physically weak after he got wounded during the recent encounter with government troops.

Earlier reports identified the three remaining ABUs as Kaifar Sawadjaan alyas Abu Omar or Saad while the remaining two were identified only with their aliases as “Asis” and “Ubayda.”   Reports are also ‘being verified that the 17-year old “Asis” is the son of a wealthy Abu leader.

There are reports reaching the military that the “Asis” girlfriend was Judith Dungog, one of those arrested during the aborted rescue operation last Saturday.

SAFE TO COME TO BOHOL

The public advisory which will be sent to the various foreign embassies based in Manila stressed the “duty to properly inform the world ” citing that the area (Inabanga) where the ASKG attempted to operate is very far from the tourism zone like the beach resorts in Panglao as well the popular destinations in the Bohol Countryside Tour like the Chocolate Hills in Carmen and the Loboc River Cruise. 

The public advisory likewise emphasized that Inabanga is also far from both the Tagbilaran City Airport and the Tagbilaran City Port. The advisory cited that that Inabanga and Clarin are about 79 kms from Panglao beach resorts and 45 kms from the Chocolate Hills. 

The public advisory further mentioned that even the leader of the ASG, Mouamar Askali alyas Abu Rami, bomb expert Abu Sufkan and six others including their native guide, Joselito Mellora ir Aby Alih were already killed during encounters with the military before they could do any of their planned moves.  Likewise, the other ASG group, who used a Philippine National Police (PNP) lady official, Supt. Ma. Cristina Nobleza, as its front was also arrested last April 22, 2016 in a checkpoint  in Clarin, adjacent to Inabanga.

The advisory was signed by Atty.  Lucas, chairman of the Prov’l Tourism Coucil chairman and Gov. Edgar Chatto.

RESCUE GROUP BLOCKED

An attempt to rescue the three ASG members was likewise aborted when military troops blocked the Navarra at a checkpoint in Clarin town in the evening of April 22 when an encounter between ASG and the Abus erupted in Clarin town.
The policewoman with the rank of colonel and her alleged lover, who is said to be a Muslim expert bomb maker and two other companions, allegedly out to rescue one of the Abu Sayyaf suspects, are now formally charged in court.

Nobleza, deputy Regional Chief Crime Lab Police Regional Office 11 based in Davao City, and her three other companions are charged before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 10591 and Presidential Decree 1829 thru “an inquest proceeding” by Crime Intelligence and Detection Group (CIDG) Bohol for failure to present documents of the seized firearm (9mm pistol) she allegedly possessed.

“Likewise, an inquest proceeding was conducted by Provincial Prosecutor Marcelina Limpot against Reenor Lou Dungon, Judith Dungon and P/Supt Nobleza for violation of RPC (resistance and disobedience to agent of person in Authority or the agents of such person).”

Police said they flagged down on April 22, 2017 a black Nissan Navarra pick up with license plate No. GFN 270 along the highway in barangay Nahawan of this town after they ignored the check point by government troops.

On board the said vehicle were identified as Reenor Lou Dungon, P/Supt Maria Cristina Nobleza, Judith Dungon and a minor. Recovered from their Nissan pick up were a 9mm pistol, food stuff, first aid medical kits, soft drinks and others.

Tactical interrogations produced no evidence and admission from the suspects (Nobleza and others) that they’re out to launch a rescue attempt for the remaining Abu Sayyaf stragglers hiding somewhere in this town.

President Rodrigo Duterte last week ordered PNP Director General Ronald “Bato”’ dela Rosa “to immediately jail Nobleza who allegedly had an affair with a suspected Abu Sayyaf member.”

Dela Rosa told news conference last week that Nobleza and her companions “will be charged with illegal possession of firearms, harboring a criminal, and conspiracy to commit terrorism.”

 Nobleza and company were transported to Camp Crame on Tuesday morning via this city airport for proper disposition as orderd by the PNP director general, a reliable source said.

As this developed, Nobleza and her companions were found already staying in a rented apartment in Panglao town before their arrest in Clarin, the source said.

“At about 9:30 PM of April 24, 2017 personnel from PIB, BPPO led by PSI Joemar Pomarejos (Panglao police chief) conducted follow up investigation at the apartment at brgy Looc, Panglao, Bohol where the above named suspects  with others rented before they were arrested in Clarin, Bohol.”

“Investigation conducted led to the recovery of one believed to be C4 detonating cord, blasting cap and blasting cap kit and personal belongings. Inventory was conducted at Panglao police station with BPPO in the presence of Paulino Apduhan, owner of the apartment and barangay oficials.”

Reneer Lou Dungon is said to be a suspect in the October 2012 bombing incident near Maxandrea Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, capital of Misamis Oriental. The explosion killed 2 persons and wounded two policemen, report aid.

Dungon,alias “Kudri” and “Renren” was the driver of Nobleza when they were apprehended in Clarin town. He is also reportedly the brother–in-law of Marwan, an expert bombmaker, who was shot to death by pursuing government troopers in Mapapasapano, Maguindanao, where the 44 special forces were massacred.

Dela Rosa reportedly bared that Nobleza had an affair with Dungon, describing it as she’s “Sleeping with the enemy.”

“Lumabas sa initial investigation, she is a balik-Islam and she is romantically involved or romantically linked with the driver (of the vehicle) Dungon.  Mag-uyab sila, mag-boyfriend/girlfriend,” Dela Rosa told a press conference in Manila.

 He said that Dungon “is a relative of slain Abu Sayyaf leader and founder Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani.”

 “Kung ano ang ginagawa niya hindi na sakop ng PNP, yung pakikipagrelasyon niya sa Abu Sayyaf, yung kanyang pag-balik-Islam. Ito may overt acts na ginawa kaya siya nahuli. Nahuli siya at kakasuhan natin siya dahil sa kriminal na kaso at administratively, siguradong tatanggalin natin siya sa serbisyo. She is sleeping with the enemy,” the report said. (with reports from rvo)