Police intensify intelligence operations in Mindanao following blasts

MANILA, Philippines—Authorities on Thursday said they were intensifying intelligence operations in Mindanao, following the three explosions that happened in Cotabato City earlier this week.

Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Nicanor Bartolome said they were working to strengthen information gathering and coordination with counterpart agencies in tracking down possible threats in the region.

He however maintained that the forces in Mindanao were enough. “It’s just that we need to strengthen information gathering as well as covert operations,” he said.

The PNP chief said that authorities need to monitor movements of terrorists in order to prevent explosions. He pointed out that checkpoint operations would definitely help in monitoring and preventing possible threats.

Bartolome said that investigators were still collating data on the recent blasts.

Two simultaneous blasts happened near a hospital in Cotabato City last Tuesday while a third blast occurred near the Office of the Regional Governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

No one was reportedly hurt in the blasts and police said that they were on the lookout for other possible improvised explosive devices (IEDs).