PNP on nationwide heightened alert after Jolo blasts

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde inspects on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019 the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu, where twin blasts during a Sunday Mass left at least 20 killed and 112 injured. Photo courtesy of PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) was placed under a nationwide heightened alert status following the twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu that left at least 20 people killed and 112 injured.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the alert status was effective at midnight of Sunday, Jan. 27, which was also the day when the blasts rocked the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel during the celebration of a Catholic Mass.

Police Director Mao Aplasca, Director for Operations of the PNP, said the alert status aims to ensure that no similar plans of terrorist groups would happen in other regions.

Aplasca also told regional directors of the PNP to initiate security measures in order to prevent similar incidents of bombings in their respective areas.

“Based on our best practices in PRO (Police Regional Office) 11 and PRO 12, mobilizing the community to help secure the communities is very effective coupled with a better harmonized and well coordinated efforts of the PNP, AFP and LGUs,” Aplasca told regional directors.

Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the PNP, said the heightened alert status will intensify the checkpoint operations of the police and strict implementation of the election gun ban.

Albayalde on Monday, Jan. 28, flew to Jolo to oversee the ongoing post blast investigation in the site of the bombings. /je