COTABATO CITY -- Security has been tightened in this city and other parts of Central Mindanao hours after the twin explosions that rocked Zamboanga City on Sunday, a military official said.
Brigadier General Rey Ardo, chief of the 6th Infantry Division (ID), said military units manning the highway in North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat had been alerted due to bomb threats.
Checkpoints were immediately established as standard operating procedure to secure the region from any terror attack.
Ardo also sought the assistance of the local chief executives in his area of responsibility to help monitor presence of lawless groups out to sow panic and fear among the residents.
Policemen in the region were also alerted to prevent any terrorist attack.
Philippine National Police-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Director Bienvenido Latag said he ordered his men in the field to conduct pre-emptive intelligence monitoring and surveillance.
Security was immediately intensified in Zamboanga City following the explosions that hit a pension house and a cockpit area. The bombings marred the celebration of Zamboanga City's La Hermosa Festival, also known as Fiesta Pilar.
Authorities have yet to identify the suspects and the motive behind the twin bombings that injured 11 people. Military and police authorities, however, are eyeing the Abu Sayyafs bandits as among the key suspects in the twin blasts.
Police Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo said an initial investigation showed the design of the bombs that were detonated almost simultaneously by cellphone Sunday in Zamboanga city was similar to those used by the Abu Sayyaf in two previous attacks in the city and nearby Basilan island.
The bombs, likely made from ammonium nitrate with nails to make them more lethal, wounded five people at the cockfighting arena and six at the Red Palm Pension House, including two boxers who were to take part in sports events organized this week for celebrations venerating Zamboanga City's patron saint.
The annual festival culminates on Wednesday with a street procession and church services. (With AP/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
