SWAT members of the Philippine National Police arrive at the Resorts World Manila complex early Friday, June 2, 2017 in suburban Pasay city southeast of Manila, Philippines. Gunshots and explosions rang out early Friday at a mall, casino and hotel complex near Manila鈥檚 international airport in the Philippine capital, sparking a security alarm amid an ongoing Muslim militant siege in the country鈥檚 south. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Security officials have not monitored any terrorist threat in Metro Manila聽after the fatal incident where a lone gunman burst into a casino in Pasay City early Friday morning.
鈥淲ell, generally Metro Manila we enjoy peace and order 鈥榥o. Maganda 鈥榶ung prevailing peace and order dito sa Metro Manila. We have not monitored any threat on terrorism dito sa Metro Manila,鈥� National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Dir. Oscar Albayalde said in a Palace briefing聽on Friday.
Albayalde said the government鈥檚 intelligence community was 鈥渋n constant monitoring鈥� of terrorist groups in Metro Manila.
Asked whether the incident in Resort World Manila would prompt the declaration of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of habeas corpus, the police official said they have not recommended such to President Rodrigo Duterte.
鈥淲e did not recommend anything on that issue, especially to the President 鈥榥o. It鈥檚 only the President who can decide on that,鈥� he said.
Despite saying that Metro Manila was free of terror threat, Albayalde said the Philippine National Police (PNP) was on full alert.
鈥淭he Philippine National Police is on full alert, not the public. It鈥檚 the Philippine National Police, especially the NCRPO. We did not downgrade our alert status since after the Davao bombing incident last year,鈥� he said.
Amid the reports of terror threat and the fatal incident at Resorts World Manila, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla appealed to the public not to spread and believe on fake news.
READ: Don鈥檛 spread fake news about Resorts World incident, Palace asks public
鈥淕enerally, a lot of quarters overreact to situations like these especially we are having all these events in Mindanao following the declaration of martial law and the hostilities in Marawi,鈥� Padilla said.
鈥淏e discerning on what you get on social media and find out if there is basis to believe that news. Do not pass on any news that may be fake,鈥� he added. JPV