Heightened alert

Elements of the Western Police District were ordered to maintain a high level of alertness following the terrorist bombing of a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia as well as the string of attacks in Mindanao.

"We are not letting our guard down. We cannot afford to have a similar incident happening here in Manila," WPD spokesman Chief Inspector Gerry Agunod said.

Almost 200 people, mostly Australians were killed in a bomb attack of a nightspot in Bali the other day. The attack came weeks after the US warned Asian countries of renewed attacks from the al-Qaeda terror network.

Agunod said that on the top of their anti-terrorism monitoring list are the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard, the oil depot facilities in the Pandacan district, Malacañang Palace and other key vital government installations in the city. Also being guarded are the stations and coaches of the Light Rail Transit, which had been previously bombed.

According to Agunod, WPD director Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong has ordered that all of the city’s 11 police stations be on alert.

Also placed on heightened alert was the WPD’s elite Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, which is trained in anti-terrorist and bomb disposal tactics.

Agunod, however, would not disclose the exact number of policemen deployed to maintain the anti-terrorist watch for security reasons.

"Rest assured, our men are there and are prepared for anything," he said.