Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Saturday placed the entire capital city the entire police force, security and emergency units in full alert after the Davao City bombing that killed 14 people and injured scores more Friday night.
Upon hearing of the Davao blast in the news, Estrada said it reminded him of the so-called Rizal Day bombings on Dec. 30, 2000, where five bombs were simultaneously set off around Metro Manila, two of which was at Plaza Ferguson in Malate and inside an LRT coach at Blumentritt station in Manila, which claimed the most fatalities.
At least 22 people were killed that day.
Estrada ordered Manila Police District (MPD) Director Joel Coronel to tighten security around the capital city, the national government’s seat of power in Malacanang, as he condoled with the families of the victims of explosion.
“Here in Manila, we have doubled our security and contingency measures to protect the safety of our constituents,” Estrada said.
“To the thousands of Manileños, remain calm but be vigilant at all times,” he added as he called on the local populace to report to authorities any suspicious individuals or activities in their neighborhood.
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