PNP raises Christmas terror alert

Security forces yesterday raised a Level 3 terror alert nationwide ahead of the holiday season.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Metro Manila remains in the highest security alert status while the rest of the country is under Level 3 terror alert.

Dela Rosa made the declaration as he presented before the media the two suspects in the foiled bombing attack on the US embassy in Manila last Monday.

“Metro Manila is now on full alert, at the same time the nation is under terror alert level 3. If the national security adviser says terror alert level 3, we at the PNP are on full alert status,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

Dela Rosa said the public should expect more road checkpoints and policemen raiding suspected terror cells in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“I have already given my RDs ( regional directors) the go-signal to conduct strong, random and mobile checkpoints across the country,” he said.

At the same, Dela Rosa urged the public not to panic but stay vigilant.

“Don’t be alarmed. We just have to stay alert. I am advising the public to be vigilant, alert, cautious but don’t panic and enjoy Christmas,” he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), however, is not raising its terror alert level in Metro Manila but is more than ready to help the PNP if it asks for military support.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military does not have any reason to follow the PNP in declaring a Terror Alert Level 3.

“The PNP is the lead agency providing security in Metro Manila and other places in the entire country,” Padilla said.

“We are ready to provide support if there is any need as requested by the PNP. For now, we have not received any advice or request. Our personnel are on standby,” he added.

National security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the PNP has been placed on full alert, not on terror alert, mainly because of the Christmas season and possible protest actions.

He said the alert level only covers the provinces of Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga.

According to Esperon, they are still validating whether a similar alert level would be raised in Metro Manila.

“(The purpose of the declaration was) more on the protection of people,” he stressed.

A senior security official said the terror threat in Metro Manila is high this Christmas, prompting the declaration of Terror Alert Level 3.

“Yes. Every Christmas the terror threat level is high across the country and we are now on our 3rd level of alert,” the official said.

“What we can assure the public is that we are doing everything we can to keep everybody safe, not only during Christmas, but the whole year round,” the senior official added.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the alert level was meant to prevent terrorists from attacking Metro Manila and other areas.

“This could mean heightening mobile checkpoints, increasing intelligence activities and law enforcement operations for the PNP,” he added.

Andanar said the alert level is consistent with the state of national emergency due to lawless violence declared by President Duterte following the Davao blast last September.

Andanar though gave assurance the terror alert would not affect activities of the public.

“We assure the public that there will be no disruption in their normal lives even if we have raised our security level, in the same vein that there was no change in the way they live, work or conduct business now that the country is under state of national emergency on account of lawless violence,” Andanar said.

“There is no such thing as perfect security but what is more important is authorities have successfully disarmed an improvised explosive device (IED) which could have wreaked havoc on the lives of our people,” he added.

On the other hand, Sen. Leila de Lima urged the public to be more discerning in the pronouncement of terror alerts.

“We don’t really know if there is any truth to that (terror threats). We can give the benefit of the doubt that there is such a threat. But because of what is happening now … I feel that they’re capable of lies and deceptions,” she said.

Terror link

Dela Rosa presented the two suspects in the bombing attempt – Jiaher Guinar and Rayson Kilala, an Islam convert living in Bulacan who goes by the name Rashid Kilala.

Officials said the two were members of an alliance of extremist groups that include the Maute group.

The suspects admitted planning the attack near the US embassy along Roxas Boulevard as an attempt to secure favor and recognition from the Islamic State.

“They also want to ease the pressure by the military against their companions in Butig,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the military operations against the militant group that occupied the town of Butig in Lanao del Sur.

The Maute group has also been blamed for a bomb that injured seven military bodyguards of President Duterte and two other soldiers in Mindanao on Tuesday.

The militant group recently occupied part of the remote town of Butig, prompting the military to launch an offensive.

Dela Rosa said the Maute group tried to carry out terror attacks to get the attention of the IS, which will eventually be their source of funds. He said IS is known to infuse funds to its affiliate groups in various parts of the world.

“They want to be recognized by IS, they are allied with IS and if they were able to detonate bombs with big casualties, they are hoping that they are recognized, be accepted as members of IS,” he said.

Dela Rosa said the Maute group is not fully recognized by the IS.

“As of now, their status is hanging in the balance. It appears that they are still being observed if they are really that good to be accepted,” added Dela Rosa. “They want to be recognized because they want foreign support. IS has a lot of money because they control some areas with rich oil supply. If they are not recognized by the IS, then they will have no foreign funding.”

According to Dela Rosa, the suspects admitted they initially planned to bomb Rizal Park.

But they balked at the idea and were bothered by their conscience so they decided to transfer the bomb package near the US embassy.

“They initially placed the bomb somewhere at the Luneta but it did not explode because the radio triggering device had failed. So they decided to switch by triggering it with a cell phone and dumped the package near the US embassy,” he said, using Rizal Park’s old name.

Guinar admitted he tried to detonate the bomb by calling the number of the cell phone, the triggering device of the bomb, Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said the call was traced to Guinar in his hideout in Caloocan City while messages retrieved by the police from Guinar’s cell phone led them to Kilala in Bulacan.

He added the suspects also admitted having three more people in a plot to carry out bombing attacks in Metro Manila.

The three other suspects, however, have fled to Marawi City as they received calls to return to Mindanao to fight the military pursuing the Maute group.

“We have already identified them. One of them happens to be a BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters),” Dela Rosa said, but did not name the suspects.

“But based on our information, two of them might have already rejoined the Maute because while they were here in Manila, they were tasked to go back because the military was starting to attack their camp,” he added.

He said the arrest of Guinar and Kilala could have preempted other plans of the Maute group to carry out further bombing attacks.

“Now that we have arrested two of their cell members and identified the three others, I think it would be difficult for them to send another team for this purpose again,” Dela Rosa said.

He said the two suspects would be charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism under the Human Security Act.