Police on alert for Valentine's Day bombing anniversary

Monday, February 13, 2012

TOUGH security measures have been taken in Makati City ahead of the seventh anniversary of the deadly Valentine's Day bombing.

Makati police department officer-in-charge Jaime Santos said it has already beefed up security measures, particularly at the Central Business District (CBD) and other areas and establishments frequented by the public such as shopping malls and department stores, as well as transportation hubs such as the four MRT stations in the city -- Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala and Magallanes.

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However, the police chief clarified that the local police have not received any specific terrorist threat.

Santos said the heightened security measures, which include the deployment of foot and mobile patrols, are also due in part to Tuesday's Valentine's Day celebration.

"I have already ordered my men to conduct round-the-clock patrols not only in the CBD but also in the city's outskirts to deter would-be terrorists or criminal groups out to sow chaos," Santos said, adding the management of hotels, malls and department stores in the city have been very cooperative in implementing security measures.

The official said "tourist police" were also deployed in areas in the city known as likely destination for local and foreign tourists.

Four people were killed and 60 others were injured after an improvised explosive device went off inside a passenger bus near the Ayala train station on Valentine's Day in 2005.

Simultaneous with the Makati bombing, similar explosions also took place in Davao and General Santos cities in Mindanao.

Authorities blamed the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) and the international terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah for the bombing.

The Supreme Court upheld last year the conviction of three ASG members -- Gamal Baharan alias Tapay, Angelo Trinidad alias Abu Khalil, and Rohmat Abdurrohim alias Abu Jackie or Zaky -- found guilty of the Makati bombing.

Another cause of concern for the authorities is the possible retaliatory measures by ASG and the JI following the killing of JI leaders Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, a certain Mawiyah, and Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu in an airstrike in Sulu early this month. (AH/Sunnex)