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Red alert up in Metro amid Mindanao blasts


MANILA, Philippines – Police in Metro Manila and across the country went on red alert Wednesday to thwart possible spillover of the bombings in Mindanao that have killed at least seven people and injured about 60 others. Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered the setting up of checkpoints along key routes and the installment of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in highly populated areas, like malls in Metro Manila, said PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina. “Iniutos po ng ating chief PNP ang target sa buong kapuluan ang paglalagay ng checkpoints. If possible, lagyan ng CCTVs lahat ng places of heavy public convergence. Ito’y kasama ng tulong ng komunidad," Espina said in an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit. [The PNP chief ordered that checkpoints be set-up all over the country. If possible, CCTVs would be installed in places of heavy public convergence. But we still need the community’s help.]

A spate of blasts caused by improvised explosive devices (IED) rocked four places in Mindanao since Saturday, starting with Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, where three were injured. Next to be hit was Cotabato City, where five people were killed and 29 injured. A third blast hit Jolo town in Sulu at 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, killing two and wounding 17, followed by Iligan City three hours later, with 11 people injured. Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, the police chief for Metro Manila, assured the public that police are closely monitoring crowded areas such as schools, malls and churches that are potential targets of attacks. "Kahit saan naman pwedeng mangyari ang mga ganitong pag-atake, pero kapag nakikita nilang (the terrorists) handa tayo, hindi 'yan gagawa ng kahit ano. We really have to take a proactive stance regarding this," Rosales told GMANews.TV. Makati activates security center In Makati, the government activated its security center to prevent possible bombings in the country’s financial district. Mayor Jejomar Binay ordered the Makati Command, Control and Communication Center – or Makati C3 – to maintain tight security particularly in the Central Business District (CBD). “In these situations we must remain vigilant. Makati is fortunate to have the Command Center as a deterrent to such nefarious activities," Binay said in an article posted on the Makati City Web portal. He also ordered the Makati C3, which was formed in 2006, to do round-the-clock monitoring of the CBD and the city’s 35 villages. City police head Superintendent Cedric Train said in a separate interview that his men have increased their visibility in key areas in the city. “Ang mga kapulisan natin ay double alert. Continuous ang pag-iikot ng ating kapulisan sa deployment zones at strategic areas at business establishments," Train said in an interview aired also on Unang Hirit. [The Makati police are on double alert and have continuously made rounds at deployment zones, strategic areas, and business establishments.] Binay said the Makati C3 would answer emergency calls from its community and dispatch response teams from police, fire, emergency health and rescue services and other public safety agencies. It monitors the city through 11 closed circuit TV cameras (CCTVs) installed along Makati’s main thoroughfares. Some 50 global positioning system (GPS) devices have also been installed in the city’s emergency vehicles for quick location and dispatch during emergencies. "We will keep watch over the city day and night. The city government concerns itself with the safety and security of its constituents and we will not hesitate to use all our resources to keep Makati peaceful and safe," Binay said. Everyone's business Rosales also assured the public that police in the national capital region will continue to be on heightened alert and that increased police visibility is expected to prevent threat groups from carrying out "any form of surprise movement." Rosales urged the people in Metro Manila to also stay alert and to immediately report unusual activities they might observe to the police. "Peace and order is every one's business. Bilang mga mamamayan, kailangan talaga nilang tulungan ang pulisya para sa kapakanan ng lahat [We urge all citizens to cooperate with the police for the good and welfare of everyone]," he said. Military and police officials suspect that the bombings could be the handiwork of rogue units of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf group, which had been linked to the international terrorist network Al Qaeda and its Indonesia-based wing, Jemaah Islamiya. Police have linked the Jemaah Islamiyah and its local partners to a series of bomb attacks in Metro Manila on Rizal Day (Dec. 30) in 2000 that killed 22 people. Following the recent attacks on Tuesday, government forces in southern Philippines have been placed on heightened alert. PNP chief Verzosa said all government forces in Mindanao were directed to set up checkpoints and secure vital installations like power pylons and communication lines. “Due to these incidents, the PNP and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) have declared full alert at Mindanao and heightened alert at other areas of the country. We have directed our offices in Mindanao to secure vital installations and conduct intensified checkpoints," he said. AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado directed the Western Mindanao Command and Eastern Mindanao Command to fortify existing checkpoints. Bomb experts and additional K9 units have also been deployed in the town of Jolo in Sulu province as well as the cities of Cotabato and Iligan. - Sophia M. Dedace and Andreo Calonzo, GMANews.TV
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