Police on alert nationwide for anniversary of 9/11 attacks

MANILA, Philippines—Despite claims to the contrary by a Palace aide, all police regional offices in Mindanao have been placed on full alert on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States, while those in the rest of the country were on heightened alert, the Philippine National Police said Saturday.

The PNP reminded all field units of their alert status, which has not changed since late July, according to PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr.

Based on the directive, the National Capital Region Police Office, the national headquarters and support units, as well as the Police Regional Offices in Region 1 to 8, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, were on heightened alert status.

“On the other hand, the Alert Status of PROs 9-13, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the PNP’s elite response unit, the Special Action Force, remained on full alert.

“All unit commanders are reminded to take all steps necessary, particularly target hardening measures, to secure all PNP camps and offices, vital installations, economic key points and places of convergence of people,” the directive read.

PNP commanders were also given the discretion to upgrade their alert level “based on the prevailing peace and order situation in their respective areas.

Malacañang Palace deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said earlier Saturday that the government had tightened security since the attacks 10 years ago and saw no need to take additional measures around the anniversary of the 9/11 al Qaeda attacks in the United States.

“While we are not upgrading our security alert for the PNP, we are closely watching and monitoring any development,” Valte said over the government-run radio station dzRB.