Tuesday, October 9, 2007

MM police on heightened alert after Kidapawan blasts

By Ronron
October 8, 2007

Police forces in Metro Manila have been placed on heightened alert since last weekend due to the twin bombings in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on Friday evening.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias told a news conference Monday in Camp Crame that the alert level was raised immediately after the explosions happened at around 7pm along Quezon Boulevard of Kidapawan City, killing a child and wounding over 30 others.

At the same time, some 250 personnel were deployed at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) to thwart any untoward incidents. Similar plans are underway for bus terminals, Barias said.

“We are confident we can secure Metro Manila,” Barias said even as he admitted that there are no direct threats of terrorism in the capital, nor are there members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

When asked if they are anticipating a spillover of the bombings in Metro Manila, Barias said: “Not really but we just come up with assumptions. The possibility though is very remote.”

A 10-year-old child died in Friday’s bombings in Kidapawan City while 32 others were wounded.

Police and military officials are considering terrorists and extortionists as being behind the blasts, which happened five minutes and 50 meters apart.

As of Monday, no suspect has been arrested yet by local policemen, although they are already following leads about a certain group, national police chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said./DMS

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