A month after Abu Sayyaf bandits entered Inabanga, villagers in the town remained on their toes and alert against security threats.
Residents of Brgy. Canlinte, Inabanga, a few kilometers from Brgy. Napo where Abu Sayyaf bandits entered last month, immediately alerted authorities of a hot air balloon which landed in the village Saturday.
According to responding units of the Inabanga Police Station, the hot air balloon was spotted at 7 a.m. as it touched down on an open field in the remote village.
Residents were immediately evacuated by the village chief as barangay officials were unaware of the aircraft’s arrival and contents.
However, the hot air balloon turned out to be owned by a Frenchman living in Buenos Aires, Carmen, Jeremy Torret, who rents out the aircraft as business.
Police met Torret after they chased down the hot air balloon from Canlinte to the next village.
Meanwhile, authorities in Inabanga noted that villagers in Canlinte remained on alert against another entry of lawless elements into the town.
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Canlinte is adjacent to Napo where 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits docked last month and hid at the residence of slain militant Joselito Melloria.
All of the extremists who entered Bohol through Inabanga have been killed in over a month of manhunt operations by the police and military.
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However, authorities have not discounted the possibility of retaliatory attacks from the bandit group. (Allen Doydora)