Security beefed up in Davao City

DAVAO CITY — Local authorities have tightened security in churches, malls, parks and other public places following the series of bomb blasts that rocked Metro Manila the other day.

Mayor Benjamin de Guzman ordered the Davao City police to carry out necessary precautions to prevent such incidents in the city.

Checkpoints were immediately put up in strategic areas, while additional police personnel were deployed in malls, public markets and parks.

"These are precautions that we have to take, especially in times like these," De Guzman said.

Police particularly tightened security in churches and bus terminals. Mallgoers were also subjected to frisking, while police visibility was noticeably increased in public markets.

However, military officials gave assurances that intelligence reports showed there were no indications the bombings in Metro Manila would spill over to other urban areas in the country. — Edith Regalado