PNP considering 'all possibilities' after House bomb threat; to beef up security at Batasan
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Political angle, including the proposed Charter Change (Cha-Cha), is among the possibilities being looked at by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in investigating the recent bomb threat against members of the House of Representatives, PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
House of Representatives (MANILA BULLETIN)
While he refused to give details on the investigation, the official disclosed that they were considering “all possibilities” when asked if the bomb threat was political in nature, if it involved the Cha-Cha proposal, or if House Speaker Martin Romualdez received a threat.
“Well, as of now with those questions I leave it hanging muna (for now) while the investigation is ongoing. We are not closing doors doon sa (on) all possibilities na direksiyon ng imbestigasyon (in the direction of the investigation). So, I leave it hanging muna (for now),” he said during a Palace press briefing.
He stressed that the PNP is “following up the… all lines na possible na pag-uumpisahan ng investigation (that could possibly be the jumping point of the investigation).”
Acorda assured that the police is coordinating with Congress and that “we intend to beef up also and deploying our canine personnel there.”
On Monday, Feb. 5, Secretary General Reginald Velasco revealed that some of the House’s over 300 lawmakers received the threats and the Batasang Pambansa Complex is in heightened alert.
He, however, did not identify the congressmen who received the threats.
The bomb threats against the lower chamber came amid political shakeups owing to its support to the People’s Initiative (PI) to amend the Constitution purportedly being pushed by Romualdez and supported by President Marcos.
The Dutertes have spoken publicly against the proposed Cha-cha and called on for a secession of Mindanao if the amendments push through.
During an expletive-filled speech in Davao City last week, former president Rodrigo Duterte also called on the military and the police to protect the Constitution as he threatened that Marcos could suffer the same fate as his father during the People Power Revolt in 1986.