Police secret marshals fielded in Negros Occ.

BACOLOD CITY — Police secret marshals have been fielded aboard passenger buses plying different routes in Negros Occidental as part of measures to thwart possible bombings.

They are now prowling bus terminals and escorting passenger buses bound for San Carlos City, Hinobaan and Candoni, Senior Superintendent Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director, said, explaining that they are not taking any chances no matter how remote the possibility is that bombings might spill over here.

Lt. Col. Rolando Picar, commanding officer of the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion, said they are closely coordinating with the Dumaguete City police to secure densely populated areas and beach resorts.

The Western Visayas police command has reminded city and provincial police directors in the region to initiate extra precautionary measures to secure local and foreign tourists against terror attacks and kidnappings.

Security has also been tightened in shopping malls and other areas being frequented by the people.

Security guards in shopping malls and bus terminals were encouraged to report immediately to the police any boxes, knapsacks or bags that may be left behind, and discouraged them from opening or touching them.

Meanwhile, similar stricter security measures are also in place in Pangasinan and Pampanga.

Senior Superintendent Arturo Cacdac Jr., Pangasinan police director, said that they are securing not only shopping malls and bus terminals but also vital government installations like the coal-fired power plant in Sual town, the National Power Corp.’s substation in Labrador town, and the San Roque multipurpose dam project in San Manuel town.

Shoppers at the City Mall in Dagupan City scampered for safety yesterday as someone shouted that a bomb had exploded inside an establishment. It turned out that a softdrink vendo machine had a leak and emitted carbon dioxide.

In Pampanga, security was tightened at the Shoemart and Robinson’s malls in the City of San Fernando.

But Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Mendoza Jr., provincial police director, said there have been no confirmed reports of any bomb threats in the city and elsewhere in the province.

Bulacan policemen are on alert at all entry and exit points of the province.

Senior Superintendent Felizardo Serafio, provincial police chief, said he has ordered Provincial Mobile Group units to augment their personnel at Tungkong Manga, San Jose del Monte, San Miguel Calumpit, Sta. Rita, Tabang Guiguinto, Malhacan and along the North Luzon Expressway. — With Eva de Leon and Ric Sapnu