Police: Metro Manila terrorists ‘info’ not validated
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/09/2009 5:46 PM
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MANILA - The police commander in Metro Manila on Thursday said the reports that terrorists who have bombed various areas in Mindanao are already in the capital region are still being validated.
In an interview, Metro Manila police director Roberto Rosales said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which he heads, is coordinating with the army and other government agencies to validate intelligence information about possible terrorists' effort to "send a message" in Metro Manila.
On Wednesday, the Armed Forces’ National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Leo Fojas said that military intelligence units were revalidating information that members of the Indonesia-based terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Abu Sayyaf bandit group, and an alleged special operations group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have arrived in the capital region from after a spate of bombings in Mindanao.
Rosales said, “Wala naman pong nagmula sa Armed Forces of the Philippines nor Philippine National Police para patunayan na meron nito," referring to the presence of the terrorists.
“Kausap ko ang ISAFP (Intelligence Service AFP) chief Brig Gen Romeo Prestoza, ganoon din ang J2 (AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence) Commodore [Rear Admiral Victor] Martir and PNP sa NCR ay walang nagpapatotooo dito,” said Rosales.
Police and military units in Metro Manila were placed on alert after the bombings in Cobato City, Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province and Jolo since Sunday.
Alert status
Rosales clarified, however, that the NCRPO status is on heightened alert and not yet on full alert.
“Sa kalasukyan ang alert level ay heightened alert,” Rosales said. He said this means that 75-80% of Metro Manila cops are seen on the streets for “increased police visibility.”
He said the raised alert status is a preemptive move by the NCRPO after the bombings in Mindanao.
He also said that it cannot be denied that Metro Manila had been a target of terrorist bombing attacks such as the Rizal Day bombings in 2000 and the Valentines Day bombings in 2005.
Rosales said the NCRPO has also been coordinating with security officers of vital installations, embassies and mass transport facilities.
He asked the public to remain calm and vigilant. “Lahat ng unusual incidents ay to inform authorities sa pulis at military,” Rosales appealed.
National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., meanwhile said that he has asked AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado to look into the intelligence information revealed by Fojas Wednesday.
Teodoro said he asked the military chief to inform him what is being done with the information.
At the same time however he said he reminded Ibrado that the authorized agency to disclose information to the public on the bombings is the Anti-Terrorism Council headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. With a report from Gus Abelgas, ABS-CBN News
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