Philippine police on alert in wake of Bangkok bombing

Local police officials on Tuesday said the Philippine National Police was intensifying its monitoring of known threat groups in the wake of the Bangkok bombing.

In particular, the Directorate for Intelligence and Directorate for Operations are stepping up their information-gathering, said PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor.

“Director Generoso Cerbo Jr., head of the Directorate for Intelligence, has ordered all intelligence units to conduct intensified monitoring and information gathering to deter any persons or group of persons who may take advantage of the situation,” said Mayor.

He said police monitoring of threat groups included the usual targets of the PNP’s criminality campaign, although it was now prioritizing the monitoring of threats related to the Bangkok blast, specifically terrorist threats, but he did not name any groups that would be the likely source of such threats.

Mayor said there was no specific threat seen so far in the aftermath of the Bangkok explosion.

The PNP won’t be raising its alert levels as they see no need for it yet, he said.

But the PNP is ready to respond to any situation and its intelligence personnel are out there monitoring events on the ground, he said.

“The Directorate for Operations has directed all units to be alert and vigilant and assures the public that the PNP is ready. This is the reason for the emphasis on police visibility, for policemen to be on the streets,” Mayor said.–PDI

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