Police deny the existence of any ISIS threat in Bulacan

The chief of the Bulacan police on Tuesday reassured locals that there was no reason to be alarmed over a memorandum circulating around the province which claims there was an ISIS presence in the locality.

As Police Colonel Chito Bersaluna pointed out, the said memorandum had no signature and therefore was not an official document.

"Makikitang wala po itong pirma na magpapatunay na ito ay hindi isang official document," Bersaluna said in a statement.

The memorandum, dated September 6, also claimed that the Bulacan Provincial Police Office had received information that "ISIS affiliates" had surreptitiously moved into the province using cargo trucks, and that these affiliates intended to "harm religious communities and Catholic and other Christian churches."

The memo went on to also claim that the Bulacan police would be in full alert due to this movement and intent.

Bersaluna, while admitting that his command was on full alert, however, clarified that it was because of an Iglesia Ni Cristo activity at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue town, and because of the Singkaban Festival.

"Tayo po ay nagpapatupad ng mga security measures upang masiguro na maging mapayapa at matagumpay ang mga gawain sa ating mahal na lalawigan," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde also assured the public that there was no confirmed report on the presence of ISIS in Bulacan. 

Nevertheless, Albayalde said that the matter was being investigated by authorities. — DVM, GMA News