PNP: Vigilance, cooperation needed vs reported JI 'bomb threat'

Amid reports suggesting that the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network may deploy bombers to Mindanao and even Metro Manila, the Philippine National Police asked the public Friday for cooperation and vigilance instead of panic. PNP chief Deputy Director General Nicanor Bartolome also said citizens should call the nearest police station if they see something suspicious, instead of trying to play hero. “Siguro ang kailangan natin ay vigilance. Kailangan sa Metro Manila ay yung pagmamatyag. Citizens should be observant pag may makitang kakaiba o suspicious... dapat i-report agad ito sa kinauukulan. Pag may napansin silang anything that resembles an improvised explosive device... Huwag kalkalin, huwag sila mismo ang mag-check," Bartolome said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said the PNP is verifying and confirming, with its counterparts, “persistent" reports that the JI has sent 20 new bomb-makers to the Philippines. In the meantime, he said the PNP has beefed up its surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities. Earlier news reports also indicated some JI personnel may be sent to Metro Manila for so-called “test missions." But Bartolome stressed citizens should leave the handling of improvised explosives to authorities and not try to handle them themselves. “Meron tayong skilled personnel na silang dapat gumawa ng trabahong yan. Hindi dapat ito trabaho ng kababayan nating nakadiskubre. At ang PNP at ibang government agencies magpapatuloy ng trabaho na mabigyan ng sapat na seguridad ang lahat," he said. — LBG, GMA News