Members of the House committee on Metro Manila development chaired by Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City) got an assurance from police officers that Metro Manila remains safe despite the reported presence in the region of relatives and supporters of the Maute group.
In a hearing on government agencies’ traffic and security plans for the Christmas season, Castelo asked Philippine National Police National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde to comment on reports that some of the relatives and supporters of the Maute are already in Metro Manila and that they attempt to sow terror in the region.
“So how safe is Metro Manila in the light of that information?,”said Castelo.
Albayalde said there are already indications that Maute supporters are probably in Metro Manila because of recent arrests.
“It (Metro Manila) is still safe because of number one, our usual cooperation with the other intelligence units. We were able to arrest supporters of Maute, we were able to arrest suspected ASG during the ASEAN in Culiat, Quezon City. So this indicates meron naman talagang….we cannot deny anymore,” said Albayalde.
What law enforcers can do is to increase their intelligence gathering operations which is very critical in addressing any security threat, according to Albayalde.
Pressed by Castelo to confirm that if some Maute relatives are indeed in Metro Manila, Albayalde replied in the affirmative. He stressed that even before the Marawi siege, the police were able to identify the Maute relatives and conducted profiling on them. He said most of the relatives are legitimate entrepreneurs.
But he stressed the PNP had not found Maute relatives engaged in improper activities.
“Halos lahat naman po sa kanila ay legitimate businessmen. At wala naman po tayong nakita na ginagawa nilang hindi maganda. They’ve been here for so many years already,”said Albayalde.
Rep. Edward Vera Perez Maceda (4th District, Manila) asked Albayalde about the situation in the City of Manila. “Sa amin sa lungsod ng Maynila, okey naman (ba ang) situation namin duon?
Albayalde said so far the situation in Manila is alright because of the full support of the Muslim community.
“So far, okey naman po I think we have the full support of the Muslim community there, especially po duon sa Quiapo. After nung blast sa Quiapo, we met them, and they pledged their support for us and vowed they will not tolerate ung mga pagtatago ng mga extremists.,”said Albayalde.
Maceda said the support for and cooperation with the police of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is also a big factor in ensuring the safety of Manila residents.
Meanwhile, Rep. Vincent Crisologo (1st District, Quezon City) asked about the security plans of the NCRPO for the Christmas season.
“How can we assure the people of their safety especially now? What are the plans of the police with regards to malls, bus and train stations to ensure public safety during the Christmas season?,”said Crisologo.
Albayalde said what they usually do is to improve or increase police visibility in the malls, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) stations through the setting up of police assistance desks.
“Police visibility should be reinforced with very good intelligence gathering. Yun sana po ang gusto naming mangyari. We have to improve on our intelligence gathering. Kaya even before, with the problem on terrorism, which is actually global. I think we have to improve the funding on intelligence gathering, not only funding but also training of our personnel.
Albayalde said the NCRPO also secures churches and all open markets especially Quiapo, Divisoria and Baclaran during the holiday season. “We increased our personnel and also put visibility patrols there, and of course police assistance desks,” said Albayalde.
In Quiapo, Albayalde said the police already built a PCP (police community precinct) there right after the blasts which happened near the Manila Golden Mosque.
He said the police security forces will be augmented by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) coming from the Joint Task Force. (CONGRESS-PR)
