PNP: No threats expected on Eid’l Fitr

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not monitored any threats from armed groups on Eid’l Fitr, but vowed to remain alert to ensure public safety during the Muslim holiday, according to PNP chief Gen Guillermo Eleazar on Thursday.

“The PNP is always on alert and ready to provide security for the observance of Eid’l Fitr, a very important religious holiday to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Sa ngayon po, wala namang namomonitor ang Pambansang Pulisya na banta mula sa anumang grupo,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(The PNP is always on alert and ready to provide security for the observance of Eid’l Fitr, a very important religious holiday to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. For now, the national police is not monitoring any threats from any armed groups.)

“I assure our Muslim brothers and sisters that we will not let our guards down to ensure a peaceful and blessed celebration of Eid’l Fitr,” he added.

Eleazar said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have intensified their manhunt against members of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that attacked Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao last May 8.

“Hindi po titigil ang inyong kapulisan at kasundaluhan sa pagtapos sa grupong ito na nagdadala lamang ng gulo sa Mindanao,” he said.

(The police and the army will be relentless in stopping the group that is only bringing chaos in Mindanao.)

More than 100 gunmen took control of the public market of Datu Paglas for about six hours on May 8, before they were driven away by government forces to the hills bordering Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

On Tuesday night, five BIFF members who were involved in the occupation of Datu Paglas were killed, just hours after President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to the army’s Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

The latest clash between the government and the armed group took place on Wednesday also in Datu Paglas, where four members from the BIFF-Karialan faction were killed and high-powered firearms and war materials were recovered, Eleazar said.

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JE