Palace allay fears that Basilan attacks will spill over to MManila

Malacañang on Wednesday allayed fears that the recent terror attacks in Basilan province would spill over to Metro Manila, saying the security measures in the country's capital is tighter compared to those in the rural areas. “Dito kasi mahigpit ang ipinatutupad na security checks (Here we strictly implement security checks). Of course in Metro Manila, we have CCTV [close circuit television] cameras all over, may monitoring na ginagawa ang (and there’s monitoring being conducted by) Armed Forces and [Philippine National Police]," said Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza in a press briefing. Nonetheless, Mendoza called on the public to remain vigilant since terrorists could launch attacks on populated areas, even as he assured that the government would augment troops in areas considered as “threatened." Metro Manila has a recorded population of more than 11.5 million. “The Filipinos should remain vigilant. This is not just the job of the government, this is the job of everybody," he said, adding that “threatened" areas may include election hotspots as identified by the military and the police. Fourteen people—three of them Marines—were killed when three separate explosions rocked Basilan between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesday. Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban described the incidents, which happened in Isabela City, as "acts of terrorism." Even as authorities have yet to determine the perpetrators, the military has tagged the Abu Sayyaf bandits as the most probable culprits. (See: Military tags Abu Sayyaf in Basilan explosions) The Commission on Elections is now considering placing the province under its control following the attacks. (See: Comelec mulls putting Basilan under its control) Mendoza described the attacks as Abu Sayyaf's "desperate and perverse attempt" to "demand continued recognition." “From the report in the field, it can be observed well that the explosion was premature. The operators were quite amateurs. So [those] professionals may no longer be at hand to conduct this kind of operation," he said. Mendoza further said that while the Abu Sayyaf group remains dangerous, it could no longer stage simultaneous attacks since the number of its members has substantially diminished. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already ordered the convening of the Anti-Terrorism Council to look into the bombing incident.—Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV