Cops on alert vs terror spillover

Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco assured the public yesterday that the police would be on the job 24-hours a day to prevent a bomb attack in the metropolis similar to the one that hit the Davao international airport.

Speaking before officers and members of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club Inc. (CFBCI), Velasco revealed that the police responded to a number of bomb threats the other night, especially in the Makati City business district and international and domestic airports.

He pointed out that not a single threat turned out to be positive and such should not be a cause for alarm.

"We hope and pray that with the vigilance and the utmost effort of the police, we can prevent the export of the bombing incident to Metro Manila," Velasco said, adding that with all his programs and projects in place, the local police "can nip in the bud" any attempt to sow terror in the metropolis.

The Metro police chief, along with top officials of the National Capital Regional Police Office and the CFBCI formally launched in Binondo yesterday the "Pulis Malinis" program aimed at projecting a good image of the police to the public.

Velasco pointed out that the 17,000-strong Metro police force will be working overtime to prevent any bombing incident, and at the same time reduce the crime rate in the metropolis by 20 percent within the year.

"As long as all of us are vigilant, I see no reason why we should fail. I urge you to report any suspicious-looking characters in your neighborhood so criminals and terrorists would be stopped in their tracks," Velasco said. He asked the community to report directly to the PNP Txt 2920, Magic Eye Txt Patrol 2910 and the Police Hotline 117.

During the forum, the Chinese community expressed fear that the Davao bombing, which left 21 dead, would spillover into Metro Manila and further drag down the ailing economy.

Velasco pointed out that late last year, when Metro Manila was besieged by a wave of bomb threats, the NCRPO was able to contain all of them.

The bomb threats are back, Velasco admitted, but he assured the public the they are prepared to handle any crisis.

Destabilization?

A circulating text message warning of bombs rigged to explode in several buildings in Makati was dismissed yesterday by military intelligence as nothing more than a possible destabilization move.

"I think this was done to frighten people. I don’t have any specific details about this yet but it is possible that it was meant to destabilize," said Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief for Intelligence Brig. Gen. Pedro Cabuay.

The text message warned people to avoid going to the Makati business district as bombs are set to explode in several financial and corporate offices, including the Philippine Stock Exchange building as well as shopping centers.

Cabuay said, however, they will still monitor the situation in the metropolis in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

"We are now conducting an intelligence assessment to determine the possible targets (for terrorism) in a worst case scenario situation," he said.

Meanwhile, AFP chief of staff Gen. Dionisio Santiago said that the armed forces is prepared to deploy its bomb disposal units should it be requested by the PNP.

"Anti-terrorist units are automatically put into action if there are situations like these. We can provide a supporting role to the PNP. We will wait for the request of the PNP. We are ready to support," Santiago said. – With Mike Frialde