Metro Manila, RP placed on heightened alert status

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police has placed Metro Manila and the entire country on heightened alert in light of the declaration of full alert status in six regions in Minda­nao following the death of a ranking official of the Abu Sayyaf Group last Sunday.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered all PNP units to increase vigilance and security of all vital installations including airports, seaports, churches and other places of convergence that would be possible targets of terrorist actions.

“The PNP will intensify its intelligence and pre-emptive actions to counter and prevent any more incidents,” said Verzosa.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the heightened alert status was declared in Metro Manila, Regional 1 to Region 8, and Cordillera Administrative Region. “Rest assured that the PNP will remain vigilant in light of the events that have transpired, particularly the encounter in Mindanao. Public safety will be our main priority at this point,” said Cruz.

The PNP chief directed the police nationwide to double security measures in airports, seaports, mass transit systems and shopping malls, churches and schools. 

Police are checking the connection of two bombing incidents in Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat to the killings of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Zamboanga City before dawn yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Cristobal Jr., executive officer of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) Western Mindanao, said they are now investigating whether the two bombing incidents were connected the encounter in Maimbung in Sulu.