Manila – Police have set up 40 mobile checkpoints in the capitol of the Philippines in the wake of reports that bombers involved in the attack on two hotels in the Indonesian capitol of Jakarta were supported by members of the same group Jemaah Islamiah currently at large in Mindanao Island some 900 miles south of Manila.

The prime suspect in the attacks Noordin Mohamad Top, received his military and terror training in the southern Philippines at the hands of extremists there. TV News reports showed.

Bombs did go off in the Philippine capitol and across the Philippine archipelago prior to the blasts in Jakarta over the last three weeks. In all some 62 bomb attacks have taken place in the Philippines a number of which have been blamed by authorities on Jemaah Islamiah the same group blamed for the attacks in Indonesia.

Security is higher than most places in the world in Manila on average. Pat down searches by private security are common in most public places, shopping malls, train stations, government and private buildings, Bomb sniffing dogs and x-ray machines, and metal detectors or hand held wands are typical in almost all areas.

Police typically impose Swift upgrades color coded alert levels whenever at attack or unrest of major proportion takes place in the region. The due diligence does pay off, security officials say about 1 in 5 bomb attempts have been foiled in the Philippine capitol because of the relatively inexpensive cost of manpower for ‘human security’ personnel in public places.

Which is augmented by CCTV camera’s and private security firms offering everything from bomb sniffing dogs to US trained EOD or bomb disposal and detection experts many of whom have experience in hotspots overseas like Iraq, Afghanistan, and as security personnel at multinational or US owned facilities in the middle east.
While authorities stress a key element in foiling attempts of terror in the capitol through cooperation from the public. Most of the bomb attacks in the capitol and the countryside of late have been generally targeting targets that range from Catholic Churches to Philippine military bases and facilities. Three insurgent groups are active the country. Most do not use terror or suicide bombing at a tactic but are known to use explosives and have the capability to launch attacks. Foreign targets have been hit before but most have failed to compromise security precautions,

Authorities also note that Philippine extremist groups are more interested in kidnapping or extortion where there is an opportunity for profit than terror bombing which galvanized public support versus extremist groups.
On specific threats; the Philippine National Police describe the steps taken as mearly precautionary, Noting that while past attacks have taken place no specific reports have been traced any direct link to the Jakarta hotel attacks. But, that the group that carried out the attacks has also bombed targets in Manila and Mindanao in the past.

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