Philippine police raise alert level in Metro Manila, Mindanao

The Philippine National Police have placed its forces in Metro Manila and southern Philippines on heightened alert following the spate of bombings that rocked Mindanao Tuesday which killed 14 people and injured over 30 others, local media reported on Wednesday.

The National Police of the Philippines spokesman Samuel Pagdilao Jr said that the raising of the alert level took effect 9 p.m. Tuesday covering the capital and the whole of Mindanao.

"This means 50 percent of police forces will be on duty at any given time and should be ready to respond to any eventuality," Pagdilao was quoted by radio station dzBB as saying.

Pagdilao said there are also "extraordinary precautions" to be taken in Metro Manila and Mindanao.

The bombings came on the same day when the United States Embassy in Manila and the Australian government, citing reliable information, warned of imminent terrorist attacks in Mindanao.

Source: Xinhua