PNP News Releases 2006

POLICE BEEF-UP AIRPORT SECURITY; PRESS MANHUNT FOR TERRORISTS

PNP Chief, Director General Oscar C Calderon today directed all Police Regional Offices to conduct preventive security operations amid renewed threats of terrorism.

Calderon likewise ordered the Directorate for Intelligence and the PNP Intelligence Group to intensify manhunt operations against known terrorist personalities particularly those belonging with the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jemaah Islamiya.

The PNP Chief also alerted the Police Regional Offices (PRO) and other National Support Units (NSU) to extend active support to the Aviation Security Group (ASG) in providing security to the six international airports and several domestic air terminals around the country.

Police security forces are implementing heightened security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the wake of the discovery in London of another attempt by international terrorist groups to attack transatlantic flights.

In the National Capital Region, Calderon issued similar orders to newly-installed NCRPO Chief, Director Reynaldo Varilla, to activate the security plan for the mass transportation systems that service the 11-million residents of Metro Manila.

Elsewhere in the country, Police Regional Offices were directed to initiate their own security measures, particularly in the vicinity of local airports and domestic air terminals in the provinces by establishing checkpoints and fielding intelligence personnel and police detectives.

At the National Headquarters in Camp Crame, the National Operations Center (NOC) and the Complaints and Referral Action Center (CRAC) continuosly monitor the situation in the regions and are on 24/7 duty to receive and process information from the public about the unusual activities in the communities.

Calderon urged the public to immediately report to authorities any unusual activity of suspicious individuals thru the DILG emergency hotline Patrol 117, text PNP 2920, or the PNP Public Information Office at 725-5115 and 725-3179.

Over the weekend, the Chief PNP appealed to outbound international passengers for their cooperation in the heightened security measures being undertaken in the country’s international airports particularly at the NAIA.

Calderon instructed Chief Superintendent Andres Caro to insure 100% availability of all personnel and resources of the Aviation Security Group to implement the heightened security procedures at the NAIA and airports in the country.

The Special Action Force was also alerted to provide possible support to the Aviation Security Group in terms of troop augmentation, equipment and tactical response.

"We may not be under direct threat from the planned terrorist activity that was foiled by our counterparts in the United Kingdom, but prudence dictates that we must be on constant alert against such threats," Calderon said.

Calderon cited the fact that terrorists first used and tested liquid explosives on an outbound flight from Manila in 1995 which led to the arrest several key personalities belonging to an international terrorist organization.