Metro Manila, where nearly 13 million of the country’s 106 million population live, remains under high alert—even in the absence of imminent security threat, police officials said.
National Capital Region Police director Guillermo Eleazar said the metropolis could not be complacent, only days after the explosion in Lamitan, Basilan last Tuesday that killed at least 10 people.
“It’s better to be prepared even though we haven’t received any imminent threat here [in Metro Manila] but [with] what happened in Basilan, we can’t ignore that,” said Eleazar over radio station dzBB.
Eleazar ordered all police units be on their toes 24/7 while reiterating to district commanders his directive on stepping up police operations and double security measures to ensure the safety of the region against criminality, bombing and other terrorist activities.
He also directed his men to continuously conduct an inspection in air and seaports, bus terminals, commercial establishments, shopping malls, vital installations, and other places of convergence.
Eleazar also wanted to ensure that all police and augmented security personnel were in their assigned posts.
“This is to guarantee the public of immediate response to any incident that may occur.”
The NCRPO chief assured the public that the police were on top of the situation but he asked the people that any information, any observation must be reported immediately to the nearest police station so they could respond correctly and appropriately.
Eleazar is not ruling out speculation coming from the military that the blast in Basilan might be a case of suicide bombing.
Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal said he also already instructed airport personnel to enhance security measures at four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“We appeal to public to cooperate as their safety is paramount at all times,” Monreal said.
The MIAA is adopting 100 percent deployment of organic airport police and contracted security forces.
Monreal ordered for a full manning complement of all shifts.
He said there would be an increased frequency of vehicle checks with random inspections to be conducted using MIAA’s recently procured hybrid explosive detection equipment.
Airline officials also urged passengers to arrive early at the airport to give them lead time to go through the heightened security being enforced by MIAA.