The text message advised recipients to stay away from the mall this week and to warn their loved ones about the threat.
The military assured the public that Metro Manila is not facing specific threats after a text message about the supposed plot to bomb malls spread.
The text message warned that the Abu Sayyaf had threatened to stage bombings if a mall chain refuses to give $15 million to the terrorist group.
“They are on high alert right now but better be safe than sorry,” the text message read, referring to the mall chain’s management.
Terrorists, the text message claimed, are targeting the mall chain's branch in Las Piñas or Quezon City.
The text message advised recipients to stay away from the mall this week and to warn their loved ones about the threat.
The military, however, dismissed the text message as a hoax.
“We have not monitored any (report) that the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) are in Metro Manila. Our reports (state that) they are still in Central Mindanao and Sulu,” Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala Jr. said in a press conference.
Kakilala, nevertheless, said the military would continue to be on alert to prevent any untoward incident.
“On our part, we will continue supporting the law enforcement agencies in the conduct of investigations,” the military spokesman sad.
“We will also preempt any armed threat against our people,” he added.
The text message about the supposed bomb threat spread two days after wanted terrorist Basit Usman was killed in an encounter in Guindolungan, Maguindanao. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Usman was a bomb expert tagged in various bombing incidents that have killed and injured civilians since 2003.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/05/1451518/afp-mall-bomb-threat-hoax
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