OFFICIALS in Metro Manila and the country’s airports are on full alert for terrorist activity in the wake of the Maute Group’s attacks on Marawi City in Mindanao, even as the National Capital Region Police Office said there was “no clear and present danger” of such in the nation’s capital.
Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada—the country’s 13th President—on Wednesday ordered the Manila Police District to double security around Malacañan Palace and around the city to prevent “a spillover of the attack in Marawi.”
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, who chairs the NCR Regional Peace and Order Council, also directed Metro Manila’s security forces “to intensify security efforts to thwart any attempts to sow terror in the capital region.”
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay also appealed to residents in the central business district and its environs “to remain calm and vigilant” in the face of the ongoing conflict in the south. “It should be business as usual in the country’s financial center,” she said in a statement.
While NCR Police Director Oscar Albayalde said there is no clear and present danger from the terrorists currently operating in Mindanao, he noted security forces in the capital “can’t be complacent” and thus ordered all police units “to be on their toes 24/7.”
Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority placed all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport under full alert. “We will even reinforce the current [security] process,” said MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal.
Operations of Cebu Pacific in Mindanao remain normal, the airline said, with no restrictions or limitations imposed on air travel by authorities.
“However, in light of the recent situation in Marawi City and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, Cebu Pacific and Cebgo strongly advise all its passengers to allot sufficient travel time to get to the airports due to the heightened security measures being implemented,” the airline said in a statement.
Heavy traffic is also anticipated around the areas in Mindanao as numerous checkpoints are expected to be put up, Cebu Pacific added.
“Guests flying to and from any Cebu Pacific or Cebgo destination in Mindanao from May 25 to 31, 2017 who are concerned about traveling at this time may opt to rebook their tickets for free within 30 days, or place the cost of the ticket in a travel fund for future use,” the airline added.
The situation in Marawi has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao as government forces battled members of Maute group, which so far has left two soldiers and one policeman killed with 12 others wounded.
In Manila, Estrada tasked the 4,600-strong Manila Police District to put up checkpoints and increase patrols around the presidential palace and other government centers and major installations in the city that could be targeted by Islamist militants.
“To Manileños, please rest assured that our law enforcement units are on guard to protect our city,” the mayor said. “In the meantime, remain calm but be vigilant. You have nothing to worry about as of this moment.”
Estrada ordered MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel to use all the MPD’s available assets to preserve peace and order and thwart any attempts by lawless elements to sow terror and chaos in the city of 1.7-million residents.
Coronel said they have surrounded Malacañang with checkpoints and round-the-clock foot and mobile patrols in coordination with the Presidential Security Group.
“We are on full alert to prevent the incident from Marawi City from spilling over in Metro Manila. There might be diversionary actions, so we have to prepare for it,” Coronel said.
With 452 armed police already deployed to secure the observance of the holy month of Ramadan, which starts this Saturday, May 27, Coronel said the MPD has added 300 more for the overall security of Manila.
Anti-riot policemen have also been stationed at the US Embassy in Roxas Boulevard and at the Supreme Court in Ermita to counter possible mass actions by militant organizations, he added.
Herbert Bautista, the Quezon City mayor, said in a statement that he has directed officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the NCRPO, and the QC Police District via text message on Tuesday evening “to abate criminality and terror acts. Note that we are still within the Presidential declaration of the State of Lawlessness.”
The NCRPO, Albalyalde said, will also establish additional checkpoints in some areas in the metropolis, while the Special Reaction Unit made up of a SWAT team, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and K-9 units intensified their 24/7 monitoring of any bomb threat.
Albayalde directed regional forces to continuously inspect schools, air and sea ports, bus terminals, business centers, churches, vital installations, and other places of convergence, to ensure that all police and augmented security personnel are in their assigned posts.
“This is to guarantee the public of immediate response to any incident that may occur,” he said.
Albayalde reminded the public to remain calm, avoid panic, but be vigilant.
“The police is on top of the situation. However, we request that any information, any observation must be reported immediately to the nearest police stations so that we can respond correctly and appropriately,” he said.
In Makati, Binay expressed her solidarity with fellow Filipinos affected by the recent developments in the southern part of the Philippines, offering prayers for their safety and deliverance.
“Our prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” she added.
The city chief executive also ordered the Makati City police department to undertake precautionary measures to keep the city and its people safe. “I am directing the Makati Police to take the needed steps to ensure the safety of the city and its citizens.”
The city of Manila was once attacked by terrorists during the infamous Rizal Day bombings in December 2000, where 22 people were killed.
Of the series of bombings in Metro Manila that were carried out by Islamist terrorists on that day, two took place in Manila–at Plaza Ferguson in Malate and inside an LRT-1 coach at the Blumentritt station, which claimed the most number of fatalities.