MANILA, Philippines—Military and police forces in Metro Manila went on red alert Wednesday to prevent “a spillover” of the bombings in Mindanao into the metropolis of 11.5 million people.

The full alert—meaning all leaves are canceled—came amid stepped-up security preparations for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.

The chief of the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas, said information on the presence of the supposed terror bombers in the capital was monitored prior to the outbreak of bombings in Mindanao that killed at least eight people and wounded more than 50.

“We’re monitoring them closely ... We will not give them the opportunity to do it here,” he said, adding the suspects could attempt to smuggle bomb components into Metro Manila piece by piece.

Fojas pointed to military camps and Congress as the most likely targets. He said the presence of the alleged terrorists came from intelligence reports that were still subject to validation.

Abu Sayyaf

But Fojas said security forces had already identified the hiding places of the suspects. He would not divulge their location, saying it might compromise military operations.

Fojas did not say why, if the location had been pinpointed, his men had not arrested them.

He said the terror group was supposedly composed of three to four members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group, a rogue unit in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian group linked to Osama bin Laden’s global al-Qaida terror network.

In a separate statement, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) warned terror attacks could occur during rallies coinciding with the SONA.

Militant groups have vowed to mount their largest anti-SONA rally when Ms Arroyo opens Congress for the last time in her nine-year presidency.

The NCRPO said it had raised the police alert status to “preempt the possible spillover of terrorist attacks” into the metropolis.

Pandacan bomb hoax

Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, head of the NCRPO, activated the red alert at 8 a.m. Wednesday as he ordered the region’s police units to conduct checkpoints and maximize visibility at possible targets, specifically churches.

The metro-wide alert followed a spate of bomb explosions in Cotabato City, Datu Piang in Maguindanao, Jolo and Iligan City.

“We have to adopt measures to secure all those who will be attending the SONA, especially security for our officials and rallyists. These terrorists may take advantage of the peaceful assemblies of ralliers,” said Philippine National Police spokesperson Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina.

Tension gripped the Pandacan oil depot in Manila following a bomb threat on Tuesday night. The threat turned out to be a hoax.

Bellida Danilo, Petron terminal manager, reportedly received a phone call around 7:30 p.m. from an unidentified man saying there was a bomb planted in the vicinity.

A police search of the premises yielded negative results, Senior Supt. Sotto Navales said.

Several groups, including residents, have been calling for the immediate relocation of the oil depot, saying the facility posed dangers to the community.

Chances are low

The military said its red alert status would not be lifted even after Ms Arroyo’s address before Congress.

“This will really depend on the threat situation in Metro Manila,” Fojas said in an interview.

Based on intelligence reports received “a few weeks back,” the bomb specialists slipped quietly into the capital on different dates, he said.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said there was a possibility of a spillover of the bombings into Metro Manila but the chances were low.

Asked whether further bomb attacks were possible, Espina said: “If the question is if they could, well we are not discounting the possibility.”

9,000 cops for SONA

Under the increased alert, more foot patrols will be deployed around so-called “soft targets,” including malls, transport terminals and other places where people gather. Similar security measures will be in place in other parts of the country.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered regional police directors to get in touch with business owners and encourage them to install security cameras and help in the police monitoring.

“This would be advantageous in terms of preemptive action against criminals. At the same time, if an incident occurs, we will be able to backtrack and identify suspects or perpetrators of particular crimes at certain times,” Espina said.

Around 9,000 policemen reinforced by 2,000 soldiers will be deployed to secure Metro Manila during the SONA, Rosales said.

The NCRPO will also deploy at least 700 policemen at the Iglesia ni Cristo anniversary also on July 27.

Task Force Kapayapaan headed by Rosales has been activated to provide security for the SONA and the protest rallies.

He said everyone should remain vigilant.

“When residents or ralliers find something unusual, they should call the police through our hotline 117,” he said.

Clearing operations

Additional checkpoints will be put up in Metro Manila and nearby towns to monitor individuals or groups planning to take advantage of the situation.

One or two days before the SONA, Metro Manila policemen will conduct “clearing operations” at the venues of major rallies and in the peripheries of Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

“This is to make sure that those areas are free from lawless elements and criminal activities,” he explained.

But another police official downplayed fears of possible bombings during protests coinciding with the SONA.

Senior Supt. William Macavinta, deputy director of the PNP public information office, said the security preparations were already in place and the police were prepared for any “spillover” of the bombings.

Speaking at the Fernandina media forum at Club Filipino, Macavinta also said there was still no evidence that would link the Mindanao explosions to the improvised explosive devices recently found in Metro Manila.

Macavinta said the police were on the alert around vital installations like the Metro Rail Transit, schools and government offices. With reports from Tina Santos, Niña Catherine Calleja and DJ Yap