Troops on red alert in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM), the Metro Manila-based anti-coup military force, placed its troops on red alert yesterday to prevent a possible spillover of the Mindanao bombings in the capital region.

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) also moved to monitor threat groups to prevent similar attacks in the metropolis.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales placed the entire Metro Manila police force on full alert yesterday morning.

Maj. Carlo Ferrer, NCRCOM spokesman, said the raising of the highest military alert is aimed at preventing Mindanao-based Islamic militants from bringing their lawless activities to Metro Manila.

Ferrer was referring to Abu Sayyaf terrorists and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under Basit Usman who have been tagged as the brains behind the wave of bombings in Mindanao in the past days.

The spate of bombings in Mindanao has claimed eight lives: six in Cotabato City and two in Jolo, Sulu.

“Although there are no actual reports of planned bombings in the NCR, we are continuously validating all reports regarding terrorist threats and all groups capable of conducting bombings,” said NCRCOM commander Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas.

The NCRCOM is a composite military force from the Philippine Army (PA), the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) that has roughly 3,000 men.

Fojas said they received unconfirmed reports a few weeks ago on the supposed presence of three or four suspected bombers in Metro Manila for attacks on key government targets, including military installations and even Congress.

However, he was quick to say that this report is still subject to validation by concerned military and police authorities and that security forces are addressing the situation.

“The NCRCOM is doing its job 24 hours a day, together with the PNP, to prevent a repeat of the bombings here in the NCR,” Fojas said.

Rosales, on the other hand, ordered the 15,000 strong police force in the capital region to start establishing checkpoints in strategic areas and conduct target hardening measures against terrorist attacks, paying particular attention to churches, which had recently been targeted by terrorist groups.

Other strategic targets could be shopping malls, markets and similar places of convergence.

In his directive, Rosales said all district directors, police chiefs, station commanders, the group director of Regional Mobile Group and other support units, should coordinate with local government units, private security officers and public crisis managers down to the barangay level to assist in the awareness campaign about security.

Rosales assured the public that the NCRPO is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality that may threaten the lives and properties of people living in Metro Manila.

Philstar

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