Terror alert level in Metro Manila remains high after the attempted bombing incident on Roxas Boulevard last week, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has said.
“This is because Metro Manila, being the capital and center of government, “is prone to retaliatory acts” of terrorist groups being pursued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Mindanao,” Philippine Star quoted NCRPO director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde as saying.
The AFP has reportedly been engaged in operations against members of the Maute terror group in the town of Butig for almost a week now.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa announced during the presentation of the two suspects in the foiled bombing near the US embassy on Roxas Boulevard that the country was at terror alert Level 3, the report said.
Dela Rosa’s announcement caused some sectors to speculate that authorities were creating scenarios to instill fear among the people so that President Duterte could impose martial law, it said.
But Duterte and Dela Rosa both shot down the idea of placing the country under such rule, said the news portal.
Albayalde reportedly said Dela Rosa just failed to explain the definition of the “terror alert Level 3,” which was about being vigilant against threats.
He added the alert level had been in place since the bombing incident in Davao City last September to stop attacks from spilling over to Metro Manila and other areas.
“We only adopted the security level to make sure that our security measures are in place, particularly on intelligence gathering and countering terrorism operations,”Albayalde was quoted as saying by Philippine Star. “It is not meant to scare or make the public panic.”
Albayalde also stressed “there is no clear, present and imminent danger in Metro Manila” despite the Roxas Boulevard incident.
He reportedly said the police had been conducting “leapfrogging” or mobile checkpoints with due respect to human rights to improve visibility and other efforts against terrorism.
About 80 to 85 percent of their men, plus the augmentation from the AFP, would be designated in all airports and seaports in Metro Manila especially this Christmas season, Albyalde was quoted as saying.
