Metro Manila alert level downgraded to ‘heightened’ alert
Credit to Author: ROY NARRA| Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2019 03:54:17 +0000
METRO Manila is now on “heightened” alert from “full” alert status, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Thursday, after authorities considered the Jolo twin blasts as “case solved.”
NCRPO Regional Director Guillermo Eleazar said this meant that there would be reduced checkpoints.
Eleazar said, however, that the mobilization of police personnel would continue as intelligence operations have been intensified to foil any possible terror plans and detect terrorist personalities.
“While the Jolo Bombing case has been solved, we cannot relax our guard. From this sad experience, we have learned that [the] terrorist threat is lurking over the country and can be triggered anytime, anywhere,” he said.
“Metro Manila is still the center of commerce and trade, the home of practically all government institutions departments and agencies, and is always a possible target of terrorists. That is why your police force has to be alert and vigilant twenty-four-seven,” Eleazar added.
He ordered the downgrade of the alert status after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde considered the Jolo twin blasts as “case solved” with the surrender of five members of the Ajang-Ajang group over the weekend namely Kammah Pae alias Kamah Albaji Kisae Gadjali alias Awag, Rajan Bakil Gadjali alias Radjan, Kaisar Bakil Gadjali alias Isal, and Salit Alih alias Papong.
Fourteen more members, including the Jolo twin blast mastermind Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, are still at large, according to Albayalde.
The PNP has filed multiple counts of murder and frustrated murder against the suspects.
A total of 23 people died from the blast which was believed to be perpetrated by two Indonesian suicide bombers.
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