NCRPO raises alert, focuses on possible threats mimicking Marawi siege

NCRPO logo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is on heightened alert as it vowed to pay more attention to multiple intelligence reports it received, which contain possible terrorist threats that bear similarities to the 2017 Marawi siege.

NCRPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Eunice Salas told INQUIRER.net they regularly receive such tips, which they formally call priority intelligence requirements (PIRs), but giving more attention to them now is imperative in the wake of the bombing at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.

“Regular naman po nagkakaroon to keep us on our feet – kumbaga lagi kami naka alerto dahil lagi naman may possibility na mag=conduct ng atrocities itong terrorists groups,” Salas said in a phone interview Monday.

(This is a regular occurrence to keep us on our feet – as if we are always alert because there is always the possibility of these terrorist groups conducting atrocities.)

READ: PNP rules out suicide bombers in MSU-Marawi blast

“Ngayon pong sa nangyari sa Marawi, mas bibigyan ng pansin itong mga PIRs na ito na fill up namin ang mga gap at malaman namin through intelligence validation yung possible na grupo na gumawa and saan po gagawin,” she added.

(With what happened in Marawi, more attention will be given to these PIRs. Through intelligence validation, we must fill the gaps and find out the possible group that did it and where it will be done.)

Salas, however, shot down reports of a bomb threat in Metro Manila, noting that they have not confirmed or validated any related information.

READ: PNP: No state of emergency needed for now in Mindanao after MSU bombing

She also clarified that NCRPO’s heightened alert status is due to anticipated Yuletide season activities.

The local affiliate of the terrorist network Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Sunday Mass at MSU.

However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has expressed doubt, saying it is validating that claim.

The Jihad Terrorism Threat Monitor of the Middle East Media and Research Institute (Memri) tracked Sunday’s pronouncement of the Islamic State of East Asia Province (ISEAP) hours after the deadly blast. According to Memri’s documentation of ISEAP pronouncements, the December 3 bombing at MSU was the second this year that mainly targeted Christians – the first being in September when local affiliates killed two farmers in a hinterland village in Kauswagan town, Lanao del Norte.

The AFP and Philippine National Police’s offices in Mindanao were on strengthened alert following Sunday’s explosion that killed four people and wounded 50 others.