AFP remains on white alert despite blasts

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the explosions that hit Cotabato City on two consecutive days, the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains on white alert and sees no reason to raise the alert status in the area, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., said that the AFP Chief of Staff has not released a directive so far, and that the area was in a “normal situation.”

Unified commanders in the field were also given the discretion in their respective areas of responsibility whether they would raise the alert status, Burgos said, adding that the Eastern Mindanao Command, which covered Cotabato City, was still “on top of the situation.”

The military also did not deploy additional forces in the area. It had “sufficient” troops, Burgos said.

The Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command has plans in terms of deployment and only gives emphasis in areas where troops need to be concentrated, he added.

Meanwhile, he also said that they were in continuous cooperation with the Philippine National Police in dealing with the situation.