MANILA – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) placed Metro Manila under heightened alert after the explosion in Lamitan City, Basilan province that killed at least 11 people.
Additional officers will be deployed to the streets while intelligence gathering will be intensified, NCRPO head Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar told a news conference on Thursday.
“We are upgrading our alert status para lang mas mapaghandaan natin,” Eleazar said. “We don’t want na kung ano nangyari doon ay magkaroon ng spillover dito sa atin sa Metro Manila.”
He clarified that the heightened alert was just a precautionary measure and that the police have not yet detected any terrorism threat directed at Metro Manila.
The explosion in Basilan happened moments after soldiers and paramilitary troops at a security checkpoint flagged down a vehicle allegedly loaded with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
MASBATE BLAST
More than 24 hours later, on Wednesday evening, a suspected IED was detonated near the dock of the port of Masbate City.
The explosive was planted in a pipe near the dock outside the port, where boats, including one from the Philippine Coast Guard, were anchored, according to 9th Infantry Division spokesman Captain Joash Pramis.
No one was hurt in the blast. “Ang tinitingnan nila doon is parang nuisance … atrocity – just for the purpose na ma-project lang na may gulo,” Pramis told an interview Thursday.
“Kasi iyong pagkakalatag daw noong bomb is hindi naman sa Masbate port mismo but doon sa dinadaungan noong mga maliliit na bangka, and isa lang sa malapit na nakadaong doon is iyong bangka ata iyon ng Coast Guard,” he added.
Authorities continue to investigate to identify the suspects and their motives.
“As to the target … parang wala namang target kasi ang pagsabog is gabi at sa walang tao pinasabog iyong bomba,” Pramis said.
“We are encouraging the public to be very vigilant,” said Eleazar, the NCRPO head. “Gusto natin na dito sa atin ma-maintain natin iyong ating peace and order.”
“Nananawagan tayo sa ating mga kababayan na maging mapagmatiyag tayo,” he added. “Kung meron kayo na nakikita na out of the ordinary, ipagbigay-alam niyo sa ating mga kapulisan.”
BASILAN SUSPECT
Meanwhile authorities arrested a preacher, or uztadz, in connection with the explosion in Basilan.
The suspect, identified as Indalin Jainul, was caught in possession of a fragmentation grenade.
He was charged with illegal possession of explosion while other charges of multiple murder and multiple serious physical injuries were being prepared.
Jainul’s family stood in defense of the suspect and claimed he went missing on Tuesday. His family found Jainul already detained at the Lamitan City police station. (With UNTV News and Rescue/PN)
