PNP on heightened alert status after deadly Jolo blasts

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday declared a heightened alert status following Sunday's twin deadly blasts in a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, that left at least 20 people dead and scores others wounded.

A report by Jonathan Andal on Dobol B sa News TV said the declaration became effective 12:01 a.m., January 28.

BREAKING: PNP, nagdeklara ng heightened alert sa buong bansa matapos ang kambal na pagsabog sa Jolo, Sulu na nag-iwan ng 20 patay at 112 sugatan. | via @JonathanAndal_ pic.twitter.com/dsKl86Eo6S

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 28, 2019

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac said the declaration was made to ensure that no similar bombing attack will happen in other regions of the country.

Under heightened alert, all police regional directors nationwide are mandated to intensify their security measures, particularly checkpoint operations. They were also tasked to strictly enforce the election gun ban.

The regional directors were also given discretionary authority to raise the alert level in their respective jurisdictions if needed. —KBK, GMA News