PHL ready to respond to terrorism threats, says Palace exec

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda

MANILA — Police and military forces in Metro Manila are in “full vigilance” mode even as the terror threat in Davao City is not expected to spill over to the metropolitan area, Palace officials said on Monday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said military intelligence reports indicated that the threat was specifically directed at Davao City.

“The information we have is that it is limited to Davao City,” he said, adding “(there’s) no threats in Manila.”

Despite this, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma stressed that it is normal procedure that when a place is under threat, other places are on full vigilance mode as well.

“Kasi meron ngang konsepto diyan na baka habang nakatingin naman doon sa isang lugar na iyon eh sa ibang lugar naman gagawa ng ligalig,” he said in a radio interview.

Coloma assured that the country is always prepared to respond to terrorism threats.

“Mas importante iyong paghahanda dahil iyong an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure…Nais nating tukuyin na meron namang preparasyon na naisagawa na bago pa man mailabas itong partikular na kautusan na ito,” he added.