DAVAO CITY—Police here have intensified their intelligence monitoring in coordination with other security forces outside the city after their counterparts in Manila detonated a bomb outside the US Embassy on Monday.
Sr. Supt. Valeriano De Leon, Police Regional Office 11 Deputy Regional Director for Operation and Commander of the Special Investigation Task Group Night Market, said the improvised explosive device detonated in Manila was similar to the one used here last September 2 that claimed 15 lives.
“Other than we are still on high guard, there is intensified effort on intelligence gathering in collaboration of our neighboring regions,” De Leon said.
The regional police are also working hand-in-hand with other security agencies to confirm if the perpetrators of the Davao blast were the same group that left the IED in front of the US Embassy.
The 81-mm mortar found near the US embassy on Monday had a blasting cap, detonator, cellphone and 9-volt battery as a power source, De Leon said.
“We have intensified our fixed and mobile checkpoint operations and other security measures such as foot, mobile, shoreline and maritime patrols,” Task Force Davao commander Col. Erwin Bernard Neri said.
Several members of the Philippine Navy were also seen patrolling the city and conducting checkpoints in downtown areas, inspecting the bags of civilians.