Enrile warns bombings may spill over to Metro Manila

Police and military personnel inspect a burnt vehicle after a powerful bomb exploded in Cotabato city, southern Philippines on Monday Aug. 5, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile expressed fear on Wednesday that the series of bombings in Mindanao might spill over to Metro Manila.

“It seems there is now a spate of  bombing,” Enrile  said  during a hearing by the  Senate committee on public order and dangerous  drugs, noting the separate incidents in  Cagayan de Oro blast  last  July 26 and  the  recent  deadly bombing  in Cotabato City.

“Do we have an idea whether there’s any similarity between the explosives used in Cagayan de Oro and those used in Cotabato?” he asked.

The opposition leader feared that these incidents might spread to other areas. especially in Metro Manila.

“Is this a terroristic activity?  If this is, did you anticipate this?” Enrile further asked.

But Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who was present at the hearing, refused to divulge the details of the investigation, except for saying that there are contingencies now being done to address problem.

Roxas said the Philippine National Police is now also on heightened alert but he refused to say the specific areas so as “not to make our people more worried  that their areas are in heightened alert.”