High alert still up over MM

A VENDOR sells his wares in the road as vehicular traffic crawls along in Makati City. YUMMIE DINGDING

Metro Manila’s top cop on Saturday said the entire metropolis remains under heightened alert status to prevent any possible spillover of the Lamitan explosion last Tuesday that resulted in the death of 10 people.

Reports earlier had said the military was on the lookout to thwart a possible follow up attack amid still unconfirmed reports the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is readying a second car bomb. The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier tagged the ASG led by Furuji Indama as the perpetrator of the Basilan blast.

In a radio interview, National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said that while the latest intelligence reports did not indicate a similar threat in Metro Manila they cannot lower their guard.

“This is part of our preparations for any eventuality. It’s good to be on a state of readiness even if we have not received reports of any imminent threats. But we cannot simply disregard the Basilan incident,” Eleazar said.

Earlier, Malacañang had urged the public to avoid speculations about the blast in Basilan.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government is not yet making any conclusion whether the notorious terror network, the ASG or any other group is the perpetrator of the deadly bombing attack.

According to Eleazar, the high alert status means 60 percent of the entire police force in Metro Manila are on duty either in police stations or patrolling their areas of responsibility.

He said the police are conducting target hardening measures, including checkpoint operations and inspection of vital installations, around Metro Manila.

“That includes the sea ports, airports, bus terminals and other places of convergence. Of course, the malls are also included as well as other areas where many people congregate,” he added.

Eleazar said the increased presence of policemen in the metropolis would also be a deterrent to the commission of ordinary crimes.

The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the bombing but the military believes it is a mere propaganda ploy. EWB