Aquino, nagbabala sa posibleng terrorist threat sa prusisyon ng Itim na Nazareno

source: gmanetwork.com

Inihayag ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III nitong Linggo ang terrorist threat na kaugnay sa prusisyon ng Itim na Nazareno sa Maynila ngayong Lunes.

“There are several individuals associated with a terrorist group. There is a report that they were spotted in the National Capital Region,” kanyang inihayag sa isang press briefing sa Malacañang nitong Linggo.

Hindi natukoy ng Pangulo kung aling terrorist group ang nagbabanta sa seguridad ng prusisyon, ngunit binanggit niyang "local" ang grupong ito.

"I’m not saying that the probability has increased dramatically but there has been an increase and we would not want to unduly increase the risk to our populace that’s why we’re coming up with this warning," aniya.

Payo ni Aquino sa mahigit walong milyong tinatanyang dadalo sa prusisyon, kinakailangan ang “maximum vigilance” o manatili na lamang bahay.

“If they can accept that as an alternative, they can consider that to lessen the risk,” ani Aquino.

“I ask you not to bring the following to the processions: cell phones, weapons, fireworks. Anyone who is caught bringing or using fireworks will be apprehended,” kanyang apela sa mga deboto.

Ayon kay Aquino, nais lamang ng mga terorista “disrupt the ability of people to live their lives the way they want to including the freedom to worship and engage in community activities.”

Dagdag niya, bilang sagot sa terrorist threat, magbibigay ng "maximum safety" ang mga pulis at militar upang masiguro ang seguridad ng mga deboto.

Aniya, tinaasan na ng gobyerno ang "PNP personnel who have been assigned directly to this mission. They have been augmented by the AFP personnel and there will be various other units that have been tasked to directly support the activity or the security preparations tomorrow plus there are other units that have been increased to go after these people who have been spotted in the metropolis."

Ayon sa Pangulo, hindi masyadong mataas ang banta upang makensela ang prosesyon, kung kaya, ang naging desisyon ay: "there will be increased security preparations. It will be very visible, very obvious and very thorough."

Sa hiwalay na panayam, inihayag ni PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome na mahigit 15,000 police personnel sa National Capital Region ang nakatalagang full alert.

source: gmanetwork.com