No imminent threat in Metro Manila, security officials say

Philippine security forces reiterated on Monday that Metro Manila is not facing any imminent threat from a spillover of the Maguindanao turmoil, even as intelligence agents are continuously monitoring areas in the metropolis where supposed relatives and supporters of the Ampatuan clan are residing. "So far, the situation is normal. There are no indications that there will be a spillover [here in Metro Manila]. But our intelligence units are vigilant and are on alert to preempt any untoward incidents," said Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, chief of the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom). Mapagu said contingencies are in place, including the immediate deployment of a quick reaction team in case the need arises. "This is to ensure our readiness to respond to any contingency," Mapagu told GMANews.TV in an interview. In a separate interview with GMANews.TV, Director Roberto Rosales, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), noted that while police are on heightened alert, "there remains no security threat." For his part, Major Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for operations, described the situation in Metro Manila as “very secure." On Friday evening, the NCRCom placed its units on blue alert -- the second highest alert level in the military -- following the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao province. On Sunday night, a GMA News report said troops in the metropolis were bracing for a possible spillover of the turmoil in Maguindanao, following the reported arrival in Metro Manila of about 300 supporters of the powerful Ampatuan clan to escape ongoing operations by security forces in the province. [See: Troops in Manila ready vs possible spillover of Maguindanao turmoil] Members of the Ampatuan family are the suspects in the massacre that killed 57 persons in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Nov. 23. As of Sunday, government troops had arrested at least 62 persons linked to the November 23 bloodbath and a supposed “looming rebellion" there. The same report said two tanks were on standby in Camp Aguinaldo for possible deployment any time. But the Philippine National Police quickly dismissed the threat posed by the arrival of the men allied with the Ampatuans. "As far as the information that we have received... there are no spillovers here in Metro Manila. We're just reckoning with Maguindanao," PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said on Sunday. "We have received those reports but these are relatives [of the Ampatuans] who have transferred for the meantime here in Metro Manila because of the ongoing operations in Maguindanao," he added. Mapagu, for his part, said these relatives and supporters are free to roam around Metro Manila provided they don't have any arrest warrants and don't carry firearms. "They are free and we have men who are keeping watch on them," Mapagu said. - with Carmela Lapeña/RSJ/NPA, GMANews.TV