MANILA, Philippines -- The entire force of the National Capital Region Police Office has been placed on full alert to avert possible attacks in Metro Manila by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), an official said.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the 25,000-strong NCRPO has been on its highest alert and will enforce strict security measures in public areas, said Police Director Geary Barias, NCRPO chief.

"We are just enhancing the security in Manila with regards to the peace and order situation in Mindanao," said Barias in a phone interview.

Barias said while there have been no specific reports of MILF attacks in the metropolis, the NCRPO will increase policemen deployed in public transports, terminals, airports, and seaports.

"This is just our precautionary measure...we will also be conducting checkpoints," said Barias.

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman, however, said that while officials did not see the Mindanao conflict as a “threat” to the security in Metro Manila, they nonetheless decided to upgrade the alert status.

In northern Mindanao, over 40 people were killed and many others were wounded when supposed MILF members under the leadership of Commanders Bravo and Pangalian of the 102nd and 103rd brigade commands respectively, held ambuscades in the Lanao del Norte and Saranggani provinces, a week after the military flushed out Moro rebels under the command of Umbra Kato in North Cotabato province.

The firefights were spurred by the atrocities carried out by Kato's group, the 105th Base Command, that allegedly burned houses and stole from residences in various North Cotabato villages and refused to heed to the government imposed 24-hour deadline to leave these areas.