Report of terror threat ‘raw’, says Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Friday dismissed as raw and unconfirmed the reports of a possible terror attack on Metro Manila that could have been carried out on June 12.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there was a heightened alert status in the metropolis but only as “a preventive measure more than anything else.”

“It is just one of many such reports received by the government on a regular basis,” Lacierda said in a statement in reaction to the report of a terrorist threat.

“Be that as it may, our intelligence and law enforcement community has taken measures to validate these reports, preferring to err on the side of caution,” he added.

Lacierda said the government was monitoring the situation “so that potential danger to the people might be deterred.”

“The safety of our citizens remains among the foremost concerns of the government,” Lacierda said.