Police, military in Cotabato City, Maguindanao on alert after Davao bombing

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 3): Police, military in Cotabato City, Maguindanao on alert after Davao bombing

Police here have been placed on heightened alert following the deadly bombing in Davao City that left 14 people dead and 71 injured.

Police have set up checkpoints, implemented stricter inspection in the city's entry and exit points, and have asked the public for their support and cooperation.

City police director, Sr. Supt. Danny Reyes, has ordered all police station commanders to intensify police visibility in populated areas such as terminals, churches, malls, public markets and seaports to thwart any attempt to destabilize the city.

This city has experienced deadly bombing in the past, killing several dozens of civilians.

The Cotabato City police is backed by Army special forces in securing Cotabato City's 37 villages.

Meanwhile, the 6th Infantry Division also alerted all its units in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, especially those guarding the two provinces' coasts which are facing Sulu, as well as those in North Cotabato and part of Lanao del Sur.

Police authorities in Davao City believed Friday night's bombing of a night market could be a diversionary tactic of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which has been suffering from the intensified military operations in Sulu.

By boat, it takes only 10 hours to reach mainland Mindanao from Sulu.

Government forces in the coastal towns of Palimbang, Kalamansig and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat were also alerted.

To escape Army offensives in Sulu, the ASG in the past sought refuge in the coastal towns of Sultan Kudarat.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=919736