(philstar.com) - January 28, 2019 - 12:28pm
MANILA, Philippines — Police across the country were placed on heightened alert on Monday in response the twin bombings at the Jolo cathedral in Sulu on Sunday, January 28.
In a press conference, Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac, acting chief of the PNP’s public information office, said that Director General Oscar Albyalde has placed the entire PNP under nationwide heightened alert.
Pope Francis asks for prayers for victims of Jolo twin blasts.
The heightened alert status “aims to ensure that no similar plans of terrorist groups will be carried out in other regions,” added Banac.
All regional directors were also directed to “initiate further security measures to preempt and prevent similar incidents.”
Police regional directors were also given discretion to raise alert conditions in their areas of responsibility, if necessary.
Law enforcement agencies have been on heightened alert since the start of the election period.
President Rodrigo Duterte has also yet to lift the state of national emergency he declared since the bombing in the Davao City night market in September 2016.
Banac stressed that this new directive of a heightened alert status is “to put more emphasis and remind once again all our units and offices to maintain alertness and intensify some more.”
“We should not remain complacent but instead we need to be very vigilant in cooperation with the community,” he added.
Albayalde flew to Jolo, Sulu on Monday morning to lead the post-blast investigation.
In an earlier televised interview, Albayalde said that they are working to “reconstruct” the improvised explosive device, which would help them identify the maker of the bomb.
Palace says no mercy for Jolo cathedral bombers.
He explained that the construction and type of explosive used in the bombs are like “signatures” of certain groups.
At least 20 were killed and more than 100 law enforcement agents and civilians were injured from the two bombings. — Kristine Joy Patag
