Mindanao execs on high alert before Ramadan

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao—Authorities have been put on high alert in Mindanao for terror attacks and other crimes ahead of the Muslim fasting month Ramadan.

Director Felicisimo Khu, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in Western Mindanao, said previous cases of attacks that took place ahead of Ramadan prompted police to raise the security alert level.

In Cotabato City, Supt. Roberto Badian, city police chief, said all police units have been “one step” ahead of lawless elements that resulted in fewer crimes in the city.

Marines are currently guarding the city periphery to help police, said Badian.

Quoting intelligence reports, Khu said police in the cities of Kidapawan, Cotabato, Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos are on heightened alert for terror attacks.

Khu said authorities are also on high alert for kidnappings. Kidnap groups have preyed on mostly Chinese-Filipino businessmen in Cotabato, said Khu, who is chief of the antikidnapping Task Force Kutawato.

Several bombing plots have been foiled in Tacurong and Sultan Kudarat last month with the help of alert civilians.

Aside from police, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division was also placed on high alert. The division has jurisdiction over Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Checkpoints manned by soldiers and policemen were set up on major highways to stop the transport of improvised explosive devices or IEDs.

There’s good news for employees of the Cotabato City government during Ramadan, however.

According to Cotabato Mayor Japal Guiani, permanent and casual employees of the city government are to receive Ramadan bonuses starting next week.

Guiani said permanent employees, about 700 of them, are to receive P5,000 in bonuses each while casual employees would get P2,500 each.

He said the city government has allotted P5 million for the bonuses.

Ramadan was expected to start on Aug. 1 depending on the declaration of the Muslim’s House of Opinion which is composed of Muslim religious scholars who will declare the fasting month’s start upon seeing a full moon.

Mayor Guiani said the work schedule of Muslims would also be adjusted during Ramadan. Workers, he said, would report from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to allow Muslims to break their fast.

The breaking of the fast, locally known as “bukah,” starts 6 p.m. and lasts until 4 a.m. daily.

Guiani said he would form a group to oversee Ramadan activities at the City Hall.

Malacañang has declared the end of Ramadan, expected on Aug. 30, as a nonworking holiday.

The declaration would give workers a rare four-day weekend under the Aquino administration. Aug. 29, National Heroes’ Day, is a Monday while Aug. 30 is a Tuesday. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao