Aglipay forms anti-terrorist squad

Metro Manila police chief Director Edgar Aglipay created yesterday a special police anti-terrorist task force (ATF) to deal with unspecified armed groups supposedly out to sow terror in the metropolis.

The ATF, to be headed by Aglipay’s deputy for administration Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano, will consist mostly of members of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) plus teams from Metro Manila’s five police districts.

Aglipay said the ATF would augment police personnel tasked to secure vital installations, like the oil depots in Pandacan, Manila.

"We don’t want to be caught with our pants down. We should be ready to act on any eventuality," he said, adding the ATF would also coordinate with all intelligence units tasked to unmask armed groups suspected of the recent bombing attempt in Makati City.

"I’m hoping that the more people we deploy in the streets would produce positive results," said Aglipay.

Police are eyeing at least two groups as behind the powerful time bomb, made of some 20 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and fuel, which was found at a construction site between the Allied Bank and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. buildings along busy Ayala Avenue.

No one was injured as police ordinance experts safely detonated the bomb but not after hundreds of office workers, as well as diplomats and the staff of the British and Canadian embassies, were told to vacate their offices following the discovery of the explosive.

The Canadian Embassy is in the Allied Bank building while the British Embassy is located at the adjacent Locsin building.

Aglipay said fragments of the bomb, which was set off by a "small controlled explosion," may provide clues leading to the identity of the perpetrators but he refused to name the suspected groups.

Aglipay hinted that leftist groups may have planted the bomb to mark the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines, but did not rule out the involvement of rightist elements.

A police intelligence source said they were also eyeing the possible involvement of followers of jailed rebel leader Nur Misuari who staged a failed revolt in Zamboanga City on Nov. 19.

Bomb experts said the bomb was made by specialists as indicated by the manner it was assembled.

Meanwhile, Aglipay ordered an increase in police patrols in shopping malls and other crowded areas in the metropolis to ward off any threats to public security.

Aglipay called on the people to immediately report to authorities any suspicious-looking individuals or abandoned packages for prompt police action.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza has placed the entire PNP on high alert following discovery of the bomb to prevent a repetition of the Dec. 30 bomb attacks in Metro Manila last year that left 22 people dead and nearly 100 others wounded.

President Arroyo has also ordered the deployment of 3,000 additional policemen to secure some 20 shopping malls in Metro Manila.

Most of the reinforcements are new recruits, some pulled out from the provinces, while others are office personnel with not much administrative work.