PNP to beef up security at House amid bomb threats

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will strengthen its security measures at the House of Representatives after the chamber reported receiving bomb threats.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. said authorities are looking into all possibilities with regard to the threat, which came as the House is embroiled in a controversy over a fresh push for C-harter change.

“It’s an ongoing investigation but we have coordination with the Congress... We have coordination on that and we intend to beef up also and (deploy) our K-9 personnel there,” Acorda said at a press briefing yesterday in Malacañang.

“We are following up all possible lines that can start an investigation,” he added.

Asked if the bomb threats have something to do with Charter change and if Speaker Martin Romualdez was among those who were threatened, the PNP chief replied: “Well, as of now with those questions, I’ll leave it hanging for now while the investigation is ongoing.”

“We are not closing doors to all possibilities,” he added.

The House tightened security protocols at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City after some lawmakers and their staff received death threats.

Some House members have been tied to a controversial people’s initiative signature campaign that seeks to amend the Constitution, an effort opposed by senators.

According to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, the Charter change push is aiming for a constituent assembly wherein the two legislative chambers would vote jointly.

He argued that a joint voting would “destroy the delicate balance” on which the country’s democracy rests and “destabilize” the principle of bicameralism and system of checks and balances.