NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo Eleazar assured the public Thursday, January 31, that there is nothing to worry amid messages circulating online about an alleged bombing plot by the Abu Sayyaf.
The message, saying the Abu Sayyaf Group will bomb SM malls, circulated online following the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu that resulted in the killing of 21 people and wounding of over a hundred others.
But Eleazar said there is no imminent terror threat in Metro Manila.
He said the NCRPO is in full alert status, the highest level of readiness in all police offices and units in Metro Manila.
Under full alert status, policemen are ordered to tighten security around airports, seaports, vital government and private installations, as well as places of convergence, Eleazar said.
He said it also means that intelligence, search and checkpoint operations and the election gun ban are strictly implemented and intensified.
Eleazar also encouraged the public to stop sharing and spreading such messages, saying they only causes fear among the people. He advised the public to be vigilant and alert at all times.
He said the message was a “hoax” and that it was just recycled by pranksters, adding such message already went viral in the past years.
"We should live our normal lives. 'Wag tayo paapekto sa nangyayari sa atin. Bagkus, tayo ay maghanda, magtulong-tulong. 'Wag matakot mag-mall, 'wag matakot," he said.
(Don't let those messages affect us. Let us be prepared and help each other.)
"Ang ating kapulisan ay nandiyan but just the same, magtulong-tulong tayo. Be calm but very vigilant... Ayaw natin magkaroon ng spillover... Magbabantay tayo. Metro Manila ito, kailangan mas handa tayo," he added.
(The police are there; let us help each other. Be calm but very vigilant. We don't want a spillover. Be vigilant. This is Metro Manila, we must be ready.) (SunStar Philippines)