Military doubly alert on Lent season to avoid repeat of bombing incident last year in Palawan

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 26): Military doubly alert on Lent season to avoid repeat of bombing incident last year in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- The military in Palawan has been placed on heightened alert for the Lent season to avoid the repeat of the bombing incident that had shocked the province a year ago.

Major Oliver Banaria, deputy spokesperson of the Western Command, said the military personnel of the unified command have been ordered to be extra vigilant especially because this year’s Lent season also coincided with the anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Last year, the City of Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan were rocked with simultaneous blasts that occurred in one of the public terminals in the city and in the tourists-favorite destination town of El Nido.

Though those "bombing" incidents were linked to a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the military wants to ensure that that kind of incident will not happen this year as the Palawenyos prepare for the long holiday break.

Banaria said they have already coordinated with their police counterparts to make sure that the peace and order in the province and the city will not be disrupted during these times. The military official also appealed to the public to be on the watch, too.

He said they are also prepared to augment security personnel in terminals, as these places are expected to be crowded with people trying to go home to their hometowns where they will spend the holy week, and other public venues if need be.(