Ang Dabawenyo

Last weekend, Davao’s finest — the PNP Regional Office 11 — and the Task Force Davao military unit were able to apprehend an Al Qaeda poseur here in the city. Identified as Romie John C. Rosalia (according to this report), the authorities alleged that he was extorting money from corporations and individuals via email. He was caught at an Internet café called Quagmire (how very apt!) on Bonifacio street.

One of the individuals he had threatened was my friend, Bob Martin, who wrote about his experience via his über-popular site, Live in the Philippines. But two weeks ago, Bob told me about the email that he’d received from Rosalia, who’d identified himself as an ‘Al Qaeda operative’ to him. In the email, which the perpatrator sent via a contact form on one of Bob’s blogs, Rosalia said that he’d “make history” by blowing up one of the convenience stores in the city.

Bob, an American national who’s been living in Davao City for almost a decade now, told me 2 weeks ago that the anti-terrorist soldiers of Task Force Davao were immediately dispatched to assist him and his family. He said that the authorities were very helpful and professional.

And last 25 March, Rosalia was apprehended, thanks to the concerted efforts of the military and the Davao police. It’s good to know that our security officials are not as low tech as we might sometimes think. I assume that the identification of the suspect and the eventual arrest was possible by scrutinizing his emails.

Here’s to the PNP and TFD!!! I salute you guys!