By Sarwell Meniano/PNA
PALO, Leyte — The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here has asked its personnel to step up security measures in public places after the PNP was placed under a nationwide heightened alert status following the twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu.
The explosion, which killed at least 20 and injured over a hundred people, prompted the Eastern Visayas police to gather more intelligence information to prevent possible terrorist attacks in the region.
“We are strengthening our coordination with intelligence units for regular exchange of information. We also urge the public to report to us the presence of suspicious-looking men especially in places of convergence such as malls, churches, and public terminals,” PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director, Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, said in a press briefing Monday.
The police regional chief asked its men to intensify its patrol in public places and heighten its presence in ports of entry such as in Liloan and San Ricardo in Southern Leyte to prevent similar bombings incidents in the region.
The two ports are the region’s gateway to Mindanao.
The heightened alert status will intensify the checkpoint operations of the police and strict implementation of election gun ban, according to Carlos.
PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde raised the nationwide alert status after the deadly blasts in a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu.
