Three days after twin bomb attacks claimed the life of two civilians in Quiapo, Manila, its Mayor Joseph Estrada has called for a consultative meeting with Muslim leaders on May 15 to seek their support in preventing more such attacks in his areas of responsibility.
The City Government of Manila through its public information office announced this week that they are now coordinating with the Manila Police District Office to arrange for the meeting in Manila City Hall. The main aim of this meeting is to seek the support of Muslim leaders to identify the perpetrators of the twin bombing last on May 6 (Saturday). The attack happened a week after the ASEAN meet in Manila.
The Muslim community already has informed the police that they are willing to cooperate and provide the city government coordinated strategies to prevent a similar situation in the future.
Saturday's first bomb attack occurred at the Law Office of Nasser Abinal, who is also the president of the Imamate Islamic Center, and killed two civilians and injured four others. The second bomb attack was at Norzagaray and Elizondo Streets and injured two police officers on duty.
A week before the twin bomb attack, another homemade pipe bomb exploded at the vicinity of the Tower Lodging House on Quezon Boulevard adjacent to Quiapo. The blast injured 14 people. The police authorities immediately arrested one of the four bomb suspects.
As a result of this series of bomb attacks, Mayor Estrada requested the Police Headquarters to increase the number of police officers in Quapo from 168 to 380. Estrada said: "People in Manila have no reason to worry about because our police are on top of the situation."
The British embassy in Manila issued a warning travel advisory to its nationals in the Philippines and urged them to avoid areas adjacent to where the twin bomb exploded. Other embassies are also assessing if they are to issue travel advisories similar with the British embassy.
