By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its intelligence information gathering in the wake of bombings in Sri Lanka.
“Definitely, of course number one, we beef up intelligence monitoring during these kinds of incidents. There are possibilities that the terrorists there can move to other places anywhere in the world to seek refuge. We are not (spared from) that. This is what we are looking at. These terrorist might move here,” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde told reporters during the press briefing after the flag ceremony in Camp Crame on Monday.
Albayalde said the PNP condemns the incident and offers “sincere solidarity” and “heartfelt prayers” to the people of Sri Lanka, renewing its commitment to boost ties.
“The PNP expresses solidarity with the international law enforcement community in condemning these uncivil acts of violence against civilian targets that were carried out for no other purpose but to sow fear and terror. In the spirit of friendship and goodwill forged between Sri Lanka and the Philippines during the January 2019 state visit of President (Maithripala) Sirisena, the PNP remains committed to extend every possible assistance within our means,” he added.
The explosions occurred at the St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, a city about 20 miles north of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo; the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo; and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa during an Easter Sunday service.
Explosions were also initially reported at three hotels in Colombo: the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand, and the Kingsbury.
Ruwan Gunasekera, a police spokesman in the South Asian country, was cited as saying that more than 200 people were killed and 450 were others injured by the large-scale suicide bombings.
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