By JOEL C. ATENCIO and ARIS R. ILAGAN
The Makati City police said yesterday they are conducting a thorough investigation on Wednesday’s shooting of the LTA Building owned by the family of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
Many checkpoints were established in the country’s premier financial district following the incident.
Newly installed Makati police chief Sr. Supt. Marietto Valerio, who replaced Sr. Supt. Jovy Gutierrez, said they are moving heaven and earth in tracking down the perpetrators of the incident whom they identified as "Enlightened Warriors" (EW).
"The group is newly-formed and we have no leads on who are behind this group. But we have increased the checkpoints in the whole of Makati City," Valerio said after inspecting checkpoints along Ayala Ave., Buendia Ave., EDSA, and Perea corner De la Rosa St. near the LTA building.
LTA, located on 118 Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, was converted during the 2004 elections as headquarters of the Lakas and Kampi, President Arroyo’s party.
As this developed, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is on full alert status nationwide following intelligence reports on possible attacks by terrorists and the New People’s Army (NPA).
The nationwide full alert status was declared by the PNP at 6 p.m. Wednesday following the series of bombings and bomb threats received by foreign embassies in Manila and Makati City.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil said the PNP is preparing for intensified attacks by the NPA meant as a show of force against the Arroyo administration.
The incidents are now being investigated by the police. "All of these are being investigated individually and separately. But if we see a semblance of coordinated actions by just on group, then we will follow the lead. Meanwhile, let’s leave it to our investigators for them to gather first important information and evidence and any particular person who will be identified later, then we will file the case accordingly," Bataoil said.
"We don’t want to proliferate crime incidents especially during Christmas and we don’t want certain groups with vested interests to take advantage with the ongoing hearing at the Senate and Congress," Bataoil added.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers expressed alarm over the bombings and the strafing of the Arroyos’ LTA building in Makati but assured the public that law and order continues to prevail in the country and the military and police are always ready to deal with destabilizers.
