Vigilance urged against Metro terror threats

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered the Western Police District to a heightened alert to ensure the safety of his constituents following the discovery of the seventh bomb in Metro Manila in three days.

"We don’t know who’s doing this and why. We must do everything to be sure that everybody is safe," Atienza told reporters yesterday.

Meanwhile, building owners and administrators in the Central Business District of Makati City have been advised to implement tighter security measures to counter any terrorist attacks in light of recent events.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay urged the CBD tenants to require their respective security forces to conduct round-the-clock patrols of their buildings and vicinities.

Atienza tapped WPD director Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos to map up plans to secure all vital installations in the city, particularly the oil depot in Pandacan.

The mayor and the City Council, through an ordinance, demanded the immediate phase out of the oil depot in Pandacan amid fears of terrorist attacks like that of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in the United States.

If an explosion takes place in the oil depot, authorities admitted they would not be capable of containing the conflagration which would surely devastate areas as far as Malacañang, Mandaluyong, Sta. Mesa or Sta. Ana.

A worker found the bomb at the corner of Taft Avenue and J. Nakpil street in Manila yesterday morning.

Last Monday night, police discovered two bombs fashioned from grenades fired from M79 grenade launchers, in Makati City. On Tuesday, two more bombs were found in Metrostar Rail Transit (MRT) stations in Kamuning, Quezon City and in Ortigas.

Authorities said the characteristics and types of bombs are all the same and were claimed to have been "planted" by the Indigenous People Federal Army (IPFA).

Makati officials said the discovery of two improvised explosive devices last Monday night on the center-island of Ayala Avenue and the entrance of the Comfoods Building along Pasong Tamo has renewed fears of a possible terrorist attack in the city similar to what took place on Rizal Day two years ago. A third package was actually discovered late Tuesday night at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Gil Puyat Avenue which alarmed several pedestrians and motorists.

The box turned out to be a dud as it merely contained a length of wire and traces of gunpowder.

"Even though the packages were not meant to explode, we can’t take any chances. We have to be vigilant, we can’t relax," Binay said.

He added that he is not discounting the possibility that there might be an actual bomb that could explode in the future and so all the necessary precautions should be undertaken.

The Makati Police has gone on full alert and has received additional personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office to increase visibility.

The buildings in the CBD including the embassies, malls as well as the MRT stations have been identified as the critical areas in need of tight security.

Binay has also ordered the city’s Department of Public Safety and barangay officials to join the monitoring and patrol of the CBD. – Cecille Suerte Felipe and Marvin Sy