This was what Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane asked the public to do yesterday as he noted that these criminal and terrorist groups may do their nefarious deeds while the government is busy monitoring developments in the Middle East.
Ebdane assured the public that the PNP has set up contingency measures to counter any terrorist activity.
"Our preparations are geared in Metro Manila, as there are reports of mounting demonstrations at the United States embassy," he said.
While the necessary security plans are in place, the PNP chief stressed the importance of communities’ partnership with the PNP in preventing and countering terrorism and criminal acts.
According to Ebdane, all PNP field commanders were given specific instructions to guard the "economic keypoints" in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
"We have actually given directives to all regional and provincial directors last Friday and reviewed the security measures being implemented by the PNP," he said.
Ebdane conducted a command conference with regional and provincial PNP directors Friday to review the security measures being implemented by the PNP.
Aviation Security Group director Chief Superintendent Jesus Versosa, whose unit oversees the security of all the country’s major airports, gave assurances that security has been intensified within his areas of jurisdiction, particularly the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.
"Stringent security measures are being implemented," Versosa said.
PNP operations head Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol added that the PNP has included in its security assessment the "hardening" of possible targets, particularly in Mindnanao.
Querol said all crisis management units at the local government level and 134 bomb incident centers have been activated to meet any eventuality.
PNP community relations chief Director Ricardo de Leon said his office has begun distributing brochures on crime reporting and how to spot suspicious packages.
De Leon also advised the public not cause panic by forwarding "alarming and unconfirmed text messages about bomb attempts."
"Let us not unduly alarm other people and aggravate the situation," de Leon said. "All unnecessary and unsavory text messaging on bombs and the like should not be forwarded and they should be deleted immediately."
De Leon said the PNP is ready to act on emergency calls through PNP text 2920 and police hotline Patrol 117.