MPD told: Seal off Manila from Maute

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District (MPD) should seal off and protect the city from the terrorist Maute group and its supporters escaping government troops in Marawi City, Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

While he noted that the city government has not received any terror threats so far, Estrada said he wants the 4,600-strong MPD to remain at the highest alert level to secure the city’s 1.7 million residents and vital government installations and properties.

“Our government is doing all it can to end the crisis in Marawi but until hostilities have ceased, we should continue to protect our city in any way we can,” he said.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel admitted that there is a possibility that some stragglers from Maute group and other terrorist organizations would escape and seek refuge in Metro Manila to evade government forces “so we’ll have to prepare for that.”

With martial law in Mindanao extended until the end of the year, Coronel said they are coordinating with different barangays to monitor the movements of “personalities involved or connected with the Maute group.”