Forbes Park to install cell phone jammers

The barangay chairman of a posh subdivision in Makati City said yesterday they would be installing a cellular signal jammer to prevent a mobile unit from triggering a bomb during church services at their parish, where an explosive device was found last Monday.

Barangay Forbes Park chairman Jose Concepcion said part of tightened security measure at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish would involve the installing of a P25,000 cell phone immobilizer within the church premises.

"The community will be purchasing equipment that would render cell phones inside the church immobilized. Its function is to be able to block all signals within the church, to automatically shut down their units," Concepcion said.

With all the improvements in technology, he pointed out, terrorists can now detonate a bomb using a cellular phone. He recalled that in year 2002, scores of people were killed and injured, majority of whom were Australians, when a bomb believed to be controlled through a cellular phone went off in Bali, Indonesia.

Concepcion said they are talking necessary precautions because a church is open to all and could easily be infiltrated by people with bad intentions. About 40 percent of the parishioners are not barangay residents.

As to apprehensions that the installation of a jammer would be met by opposition from churchgoers who need to make calls or send or receive messages, the barangay chairman said the device would actually complement church rules.

"Di ba, the priest at the start of the service always reminds parishioners to turn off their cell phones during the Mass. I think a lot of people will actually be pleased because they went to hear Mass without interruptions. Cell phones only cause disruptions. Besides, once outside of the church, their signals would return," Concepcion said.

He also clarified that this was not a "panic" reaction, but an effort to be more cautious and vigilant.

Last Monday marked the first time a bomb found inside the subdivision.

Concepcion admitted that several concerned residents called him up to verify if a bomb was indeed found.

The barangay intends to provide all households in Forbes copies of the police report on the incident and the proposed security measures.

At around 2:30 p.m. last Monday, an explosive device with some seven kilos of C4 was discovered inside a trash can of the church. Local police quickly responded and defused the bomb.

Senior Superintendent Jovito Gutierrez of the Makati City police said they are coordinating with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to provide them with intelligence information on the group behind the planting of the bomb.

They would also advise security guards at subdivisions in Makati to be on alert. Extra work is also in store for four bomb sniffing dogs.

The K-9s would will be roving seven hotels, shopping malls and gasoline stations to prevent a possible bomb attack.