By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Bacolod Station commander, Lieutenant Jimmy Oliver Vingno, said they will begin double checking all passengers both inbound and outbound from Mindanao, following the recent arrest of three people in Iloilo City with alleged links to the Maute terror group.
In an interview with Watchmen Daily Journal yesterday, Vingno said the PCG has been on a heightened alert status ever since the attempted Abu Sayyaf attack in Bohol earlier this year, along with the attempted takeover of Marawi City by the Islamic State-backed Maute group.
Vingno said they are relying on intelligence reports by the other PCG stations, especially those in Mindanao, and are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He explained, if they receive information about suspected Maute members among passengers coming from Mindanao, they will immediately conduct an inspection of the vessel and arrest the suspects before letting it dock in Bacolod City.
Earlier on Sunday, the PCG station in Iloilo arrested three suspected Maute members, identified as Ajajid Pangumping Romato, 20 years old from Iligan City; Farida Pangumping Romato, 23 years old from Cagayan De Oro City; and Abdulrahman Serd Dimakutah, 25 years old from Maranao, Lanao del Sur.
The suspects were intercepted aboard 2Go vessel M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus, which originated from Cagayan De Oro City.
The three suspects also have pending arrest warrants for the charge of “rebellion to the state,” issued by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
The PCG later flew the suspects back to Cagayan De Oro City for inquest proceedings./WDJ