EPD activates Ortigas Shield

The Eastern Police District (EPD) tightened security at the Ortigas commercial center in Pasig City yesterday following a warning by the US and Australia of imminent terrorist attacks in the country, especially in areas frequented by foreigners.

In a command conference, EPD director Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman also ordered his four police chiefs to deploy additional personnel to all transport and other business establishments located in their areas of responsibility.

"Terrorists operate in a very precise and sophisticated manner and we are hoping to properly address the problem through police and people action in unity," Ticman said.

Ticman said under the Ortigas Shield, police would be securing the Asian Development Bank located along ADB Avenue; Philippine Stock Exchange (PSC) at the Tektite Tower; and the SM Megamall, all located at the Ortigas Center in Pasig.

Ticman said they will be guarding at least five stations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Mandaluyong, San Juan and Marikina, and other malls and business establishments located in the eastern part of Metro Manila.

"We are tightening our security cordon to prevent possible terrorist attacks not only at the business center, but other sectors as well," Ticman said.

The alert level was raised after the United States Embassy in Manila warned a terrorist group may be plotting bomb attacks in the country over the next few days. The US Embassy also warned its citizens to avoid travel to Mindanao.

The warning came just hours ahead of the bombing of a public gathering in Makilala, North Cotabato, where six people were killed and 42 others were wounded.

Hours earlier, a bomb wounded at least six people at a public market in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.

Military and police intelligence units also confirmed that the attacks could be in retaliation for the arrest of the wife of a top Indonesian militant last week.

Istiada Binti Oemar Sovie, wife of Dulmatin, an alleged leader of Al-Qaeda linked terrorist cell Jemaah Islamiyah and a suspect in the Bali bombing, was arrested in Jolo, Sulu last Oct. 2.

Ticman also met yesterday with top security officers of Ortigas Center to discuss security measures implemented by his command at their establishments.

The EPD chief also called on the public to be vigilant and help authorities in preventing terrorist attacks.

"The community plays an important role, especially in the prevention aspect of the security campaign," Ticman said.

Camanava on heightened alert

Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Northern Police District (NPD) director, ordered a heightened alert in the Camanava area following a series of bombing incidents in Mindanao.

Bataoil said he has tasked the four chiefs of police in his jurisdiction to make their presence felt in vital installations in their particular areas, including shopping malls, gas stations and bus terminals, which are likely targets of terrorist attack.

Bataoil made the rounds in his area of responsibility to identify areas that are relatively less secure and to check the readiness of the police.

He has also ordered the District Investigation and Intelligence Division (DIID), the District Mobile Force (DMF) and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to sweep the area and feed information to police units for appropriate action.

Bataoil said a 24-hour checkpoint is in place. — With Jerry Botial