BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in this province hoisted a “red alert” status following the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu which took the lives of 14 people and injured 35 others.
Lieutenant Commander Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Negros Occidental chief, said the heightened alert was being enforced since Tuesday in compliance with the directives issued by their national headquarters and Transport secretary Arthur Tugade.
“We have intensified security border check in all major ports in this province,” he added.
These include the Bredco port, as well as the harbors in the northern cities of San Carlos, Escalante, and Sagay.
The PCG-Negros Occidental already deployed its K9 units in ports to check all vehicles and cargo being loaded into ships.
It was Admiral George Ursabia Jr., PCG commandant, who first declared a “red alert” status for PCG stations in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Coast Guard personnel will also support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in investigating the Sulu twin bombings.
The casualties also included a police officer and seven soldiers.
Philippine Army commander Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana for his part, said the two female suicide bombers responsible for the terror attack could have been motivated by Abu Sayyaf leader Mundi Sawadjaan to do the grisly work.
They could also be widows of terrorists who were earlier killed or neutralized by government forces, Sobejana added.
PNP Chief, General Archie Gamboa, said in a press statement that he has mobilized all available security forces in pursuit operations against those responsible for the bombings.
The initial explosion occurred at 11:53 a.m. while the second blast – some 100 meters away from the site of the first attack – happened at 1:06 p.m. (With a report from PNA/PN)
