KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Philippine officials have placed a full security alert for the entire country after an attack on the southern city of Davao killed 14 and wounded over a score last night.
The latest directive from its police regional office extended an earlier security alert for Metro Manila in the north, the official Philippines News Agency reported today.
The borders of major cities and municipalities are closed and police and military personnel are checking traffic along the highways.
An additional 500 policemen have been tasked to guard General Santos City, which is celebrating the 48th year of its founding and a tuna festival. Festivalgoers are banned from carrying backpacks.
“Our intensified security operations are ongoing and we have set additional measures to properly secure the festival venues and activities,” Romeo Galgo Jr, the Philippine regional police information officer was quoted saying.
The surveillance measures were part of increased security and intelligence operations to counter local terror groups. Regional Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf have claimed credit for the Davao attack though Philippines authorities have not ruled out the possibility that its drug lords and other groups may be involved.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who was visiting his Davao City hometown have declared a nationwide “state of lawlessness” but have stopped short of imposing martial law.
