Troops on red alert in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM), the Metro Manila-based anti-coup military force, placed its troops on red alert yesterday to prevent a possible spillover of the Mindanao bombings in the capital region.

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) also moved to monitor threat groups to prevent similar attacks in the metropolis.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales placed the entire Metro Manila police force on full alert yesterday morning.

Maj. Carlo Ferrer, NCRCOM spokesman, said the raising of the highest military alert is aimed at preventing Mindanao-based Islamic militants from bringing their lawless activities to Metro Manila.

Ferrer was referring to Abu Sayyaf terrorists and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under Basit Usman who have been tagged as the brains behind the wave of bombings in Mindanao in the past days.

The spate of bombings in Mindanao has claimed eight lives: six in Cotabato City and two in Jolo, Sulu.

“Although there are no actual reports of planned bombings in the NCR, we are continuously validating all reports regarding terrorist threats and all groups capable of conducting bombings,” said NCRCOM commander Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas.

The NCRCOM is a composite military force from the Philippine Army (PA), the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) that has roughly 3,000 men.

Fojas said they received unconfirmed reports a few weeks ago on the supposed presence of three or four suspected bombers in Metro Manila for attacks on key government targets, including military installations and even Congress.

However, he was quick to say that this report is still subject to validation by concerned military and police authorities and that security forces are addressing the situation.

“The NCRCOM is doing its job 24 hours a day, together with the PNP, to prevent a repeat of the bombings here in the NCR,” Fojas said.

Rosales, on the other hand, ordered the 15,000 strong police force in the capital region to start establishing checkpoints in strategic areas and conduct target hardening measures against terrorist attacks, paying particular attention to churches, which had recently been targeted by terrorist groups.

Other strategic targets could be shopping malls, markets and similar places of convergence.

In his directive, Rosales said all district directors, police chiefs, station commanders, the group director of Regional Mobile Group and other support units, should coordinate with local government units, private security officers and public crisis managers down to the barangay level to assist in the awareness campaign about security.

Rosales assured the public that the NCRPO is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality that may threaten the lives and properties of people living in Metro Manila. 

Senators: Show of force

But senators assailed the deployment of excessive force at a time when President Arroyo is about to deliver her last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.

They said that it only showed how unpopular she is with the people.

Senators Francis Pangilinan and Francis Escudero said the administration should not flaunt its might as the President was expected to merely trumpet its supposed gains in her last SONA.

“It’s a show of force to project power, but no amount of arms or the display of armed might can change the sentiment of a people towards an unpopular regime,” Pangilinan said.

He said the government should exercise restraint and continue efforts to achieve lasting peace in the country instead of intimidating critics and opponents.

Escudero said the planned deployment of close to 7,000 policemen and soldiers to secure Mrs. Arroyo during her SONA would also reveal the utter loss of people’s confidence in her administration.

“This excessive deployment reeks of paranoia. It shows how this administration has lost the people’s trust and confidence since it took power nine years ago,” he said.

“On its last SONA, this administration will trumpet its accomplishments behind phalanx after phalanx of heavily armed security forces and armored vehicles,” Escudero said.

Police and military authorities have revved up preparations for the July 27 event, and announced the deployment of thousands of policemen at the Batasang Pambansa and in traditional rally areas like Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola), EDSA Shrine and the US Embassy.

The Southern Police District has vowed to deploy 200 police personnel to form part of the Civil Disturbance Management group that will stand guard in Quezon City during the President’s SONA.

Escudero said the administration should not be surprised at the thousands of protesters expected to stage demonstrations during the event, considering its unpopularity and the dissatisfaction among the people.

“The people still remember Garci, Bolante, Abalos, and a host of other characters who were involved in controversies that have diminished us all,” he said.

“Our only hope is for this administration to mend its ways, ensure clean and honest elections, and step down in 2010,” Escudero said.

NCR is safe

Earlier, the PNP announced that it has mapped out a public security plan for Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA.

The President is expected to deliver her SONA before both houses of Congress at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

This is while militant organizations are planning to hold rallies that day.

The latest bombing attacks in Mindanao followed several incidents last month in the National Capital Region that had some political observers thinking that a destabilization plot was being hatched.

Late last month, a bomb exploded at the Office of the Ombudsman. The explosion was later followed by the discovery of two improvised explosive devices planted at the Department of Agriculture (DA) and at a posh apartment building in Quezon City.

“If I have to assess the targets, it could be vital installations like military camps or Congress,” Fojas said.

He, however, emphasized that any threat groups will have a very slim chance of success with the prevailing security measures being enforced all over Metro Manila.

Fojas also appealed for public vigilance, saying that terrorism is everybody’s concern. – Rhodina Villanueva, Aurea Calica