Valenzuela intel info on terror plot turns out negative—NPD

NPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo. FILE PHOTO / INQUIRER.net

The Northern Police District (NPD) said that the information about the alleged bomb plots of the Maute terror group in parts of Metro Manila turned out to be “negative.”

NPD director Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo on Tuesday said that the memo contained raw intelligence information subject for validation.

“Raw information yun. Maraming info diba. Kailangan i-validate. Negative naman (That’s raw information. There is so much information, it needs validation. They’re all negative),” he said.

The memo, dated June 16, was issued by the Station Intelligence Branch of the Valenzuela City police station.

According to the memo, some members of the Maute group will conduct bombings in two malls in Quezon City, Quezon City Circle and certain places in Quiapo and Makati.

Police Chief Inspector Jowi Louie Bilaro, Valenzuela police chief, told his men in a directive to step up security measures.

Fajardo said he will recommend the relief of the police chief who allowed the leak of the memo.

“Hindi naman nilalabas ang memo. Yun ang violation dun. Tama yung ginawa niya pero violation niya yung nakalabas yung memo (The memo was not supposed to be sent out. That’s his violation. He issued the correct directive, but the mistake he did was he allowed the memo to leak),” he said.

National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar Albayalde earlier ordered the investigation into the leak of the document.

In an interview with ANC, Albayalde said the memo was authentic but the information was for validation.

“It is not meant to scare the public….It’s meant for confirmation by lower units to regional level,” he said. JPV/rga