Bato on possible bombing in Manila: ‘Only God knows’
PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net
Only God knows.
Admitting that the police cannot assure that a deadly explosion like in Davao City would not happen in Metro Manila, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa nevertheless assured the public that the government is doing its best to protect the public.
“If you’re going to ask me how sure are we that bombings wouldn’t happen in Metro Manila, only God knows,” Dela Rosa told reporters at Camp Crame.
Reiterating that even the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which he said is the best intelligence agency in the world, could not thwart terror attacks in its own backyard, it would also be difficult for the government’s security forces to predict bombings in the country.
“We are just hoping and praying. Do you want us to put a demarcation line in Davao or a wall like Berlin Wall to prevent terrorists from entering the city?” Dela Rosa said.
“I cannot give you the assurance na hindi kami malulusutan (that they won’t slip throug us) but what I can assure you, your PNP, military and the Philippine government (are) doing [their] best to address this problem,” he added.
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Dela Rosa asked the people not to panic whenever they receive bomb threats, adding that some threats were just pranks made by students who wanted their classes suspended.
“Please don’t panic. Don’t forward these messages right away because this will cause panic to people especially those who have low threshold for fear. Kawawa naman (That would be pitiful). For all you know, ito ay kagagawan lang ng mga estudyante na ayaw pumasok sa eskwelahan, gusto nila magclose yung eskwelahan para wala silang klase (this could be the doing of students who just want their classes suspended),” he said.
The police chief said that once they receive a verified bomb threat, he would even ask the help of the media in disseminating the threat.
“I can assure the public that if we will come across a very reliable and imminent threat, we will broadcast it right away through legitimate media,” he said. CDG/rga
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