Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Top police officials in the Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol regions in the Philippines have doubled security measures in the wake of the Makati City bus bombing although no province in any of the regions has been tagged as a terror target.
Top officials in the Calabarzon police office said that police visibility was doubled in bus terminals and sea ports. Police marshals were sent to escort buses in Southern Luzon.
Calabarzon police said they are also coordinating with bus companies and encouraging passengers to immediately report suspicious persons and luggage by calling 2920 (police hotline) and 117 (hotline to the Department of Interior and Local Government).
Special places
Special attention was given to Tagaytay City in Cavite and to the cities of San Pablo and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, which are frequented by local and foreign tourists.
Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban, Mimaropa regional police director, said while police have no report yet of any impending terror attack in the region, "police have remained in place."
"We have increased police visibility and checkpoints to ensure the safety of the people," said Hicban.
In Naga City, Senior Supt. Jonathan Ablang, Camarines Sur provincial police director, said police have set up checkpoints in the province.
Intelligence men
Ablang said police intelligence operatives were also deployed to public places, especially to bus terminals where people converge.
"But there is still no instruction from the higher-ups regarding the red alert status. It's still normal but the conduct of intelligence gathering has been intensified," he said.
Military and police authorities in Bicol are on heightened alert for possible terror attacks after the Makati City bombing that killed five people and injured dozens of others.
Army Maj. Harold Cabunoc, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said in a text message that all Army brigades and battalions across the Bicol region had been placed on high alert.
All policemen and soldiers in the region are on standby to respond to any threats, said Cabunoc.
Checkpoints
The PNP in Bicol is also on full alert, according to Chief Insp. Pelagio Samson, Bicol police spokesperson.
Samson said police units were directed to place additional policemen to closely check various airports, bus terminals, seaports and malls where people converge regularly.
Checkpoints were also put up in major highways and streets to monitor and assist vehicles, trucks and buses.
The Makati City bus bombing has forced government to raise a P1-million reward for information that would lead to the arrest of two suspects who were believed to have planted the bomb in the bus on Edsa. Maricar Cinco, Madonna T. Virola, Juan Escandor Jr. and Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon
