By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Thursday downgraded the security alert status in the region.
“The Jolo bombing incident was already declared ‘case closed’ with the arrest of several suspects involved in the said terrorist and inhumane incident. In this regard, the Full Alert status of the NCRPO is downgraded to Heightened Status effective today (Thursday),” NCRPO head, Director Guillermo Eleazar, said in a message to reporters.
Eleazar, however, said mobilization of police personnel will continue as intelligence operations have been intensified to foil any possible terror plan and detect terrorist personalities.
“The difference between the two status levels is really minimal. There may be less checkpoint frequencies but the mobilization of our police personnel and resources in the Metropolis continues,” the NCRPO head added.
While the Jolo bomb incident is already considered closed, Eleazar clarified that authorities are not letting their guard down.
“Public safety, peace and order are always a joint responsibility of the community and the police. Without community support and participation, the police will not be as strong. The primary reason why we are enjoying success in the peace and order situation in Metro Manila is because of the surge of public participation in matters of peace and order, especially in the fight against criminality. That is why crime volume in Metro Manila continues to go down,” Metro Manila’s top cop said.
Police units in Luzon and Visayas were earlier placed on full alert after the January 27 Jolo twin bomb blasts to ensure that there will be no spillover of attacks.
Mindanao is currently under the highest security alert status and is under martial law since the Marawi City siege in May 2017.
On Wednesday, state lawyers filed criminal charges before the Jolo Regional Trial Court (RTC) against five suspects in the Jolo cathedral bombing.
Provincial Prosecutor Rommel Cancio filed an information for the complex crime of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder against Mukammar L. Pay alias Kammah; Albaji K. Gadjali alias Apah; Radjan B. Gadjaliq; Kaiser Gadjali; and Said Alih.
Authorities earlier said seven other identified suspects and several John and Jane Does are still at large.
The suspects have been named respondents in 23 counts of murder, frustrated murder and damage to property filed by the Sulu Police.
