The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday placed the entire country under terror alert level 3 following the arrest of the two suspected members of a terrorist group involved in the foiled attack on Roxas Boulevard near the US Embassy compound.
“Naka-alerto na tayo, andyan na tayo sa level 3,” PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa told reporters in a press conference on Thursday.
Dela Rosa also presented to the media Rayson “Rasid” Kilala and Jiaher Guinar who were arrested in relation to the attempted bombing in Roxas Boulevard on Monday.
The PNP chief said both suspects are members of jihadist group Ansar Al-Khalifa and are connected to the Maute group, which attempted to take over the town of Butig in Lanao del Sur last week.
Both suspects were arrested in Bulacan province on Wednesday.
Dela Rosa also told reporters that the two suspects admitted to their participation to the foiled attack and that it was meant to divert the attention of government’s continuing military operations against the Maute Group in Lanao del Sur.
It was also a form of show of force by the group to be recognized by the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), he added.
“Ang motive nila ay para luluwag ang military operations doon sa Maute Group at saka gusto rin nilang ma-recognize ng ISIS … kung nakapagpasabog sila ng bomba at nagkaroon ng malaking pinsala, malaking casualties,” the PNP chief said.
The bombs, as revealed by the suspects, were transported from Mindanao to Manila on board a Toyota Revo.
The subject vehicle was already recovered by the PNP.
Dela Rosa also confirmed that the bomb recovered in Roxas Boulevard is similar to the improvised explosive device (IED) that hit the Night Market in Davao City in September.
Three more suspects involved in the foiled attack at Roxas Boulevard are still being tracked down by law enforcers.
As the PNP raised terror alert level three, Dela Rosa called on the public to be vigilant, alert and cautious.
“Don’t panic,” he added, as he also told the public to expect strong checkpoints and the strict implementation of “Oplan Sita” anytime.
“Raids will also be conducted by all security forces on suspected terrorist personalities and lairs where these terrorists are hiding,” he said.
