The assurance was given after Malacañang placed security forces on heightened alert in the National Capital Region (NCR) while verifying a potential terror threat in the country.

Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PNP spokesman, said they are banking on the strict security measures put in place with police on full alert status for the long holiday weekend for All Saints’ Day.

“Our security coverage is still in place; we are ready for any situation,” said Cruz.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda assured the government is going an “extra mile” to avert any terrorist attack and called on the public to remain calm and vigilant.

Meanwhile, police heightened security in three vital areas – Malacanang Palace, United States Embassy and the Pandacan Oil Depot.

Manila Police District (MPD) officer-in-charge Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla said in a press conference that three special task "forces are “on call” in case of any untoward incident in the three installations.

“Based on previous experiences, we know that among possible targets are the US Embassy, Malacanang and the Pandacan Oil Depot,” Rongavilla said.

“We would like to inform the public that as far as these possible target areas are concerned, we have the task forces ready on call as we monitor some activities involving these three major vital installations,” he said.

Rongavilla said, the Task Force US Embassy is headed by MPD Ermita Police Station 5 Supt. Frumencio Bernal; task force Malacañang is under Supt. Felipe cason, of the MPD Sta. Mesa station 8; and task force Pandacan is led by Supt. Orlando Mirando of the MPD Pandacan Station 10.

On Tuesday, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States warned their respective citizens of travel in the Philippines reportedly over impending terror attacks especially in Metro Manila.

But Defense and Armed Forces officials assured that foreigners are safe in the country and the public can sleep well as they emphasized there is no imminent terror threat.

The travel advisories came several days after the foiled mail bomb attempts in the United States.

But as far as the PNP is concerned, Cruz said they have been focusing on its anti-terrorism campaign plan long before the foiled attacks in the United States and the issuance of the three travel advisories.

Last Month, the Manila Bulletin reported that at least five members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Special Operations Group (MILF-SOG) members linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah had slipped into Metro Manila to allegedly carry out bomb attacks.

At least two separate confidential reports circulated in different MPD divisions and police stations – copies of which were obtained by the Manila Bulletin – stated that extremist groups would attempt a strike in vital installations in Metro Manila before the year 2010 ends.

The first memorandum, issued by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Oct. 4, 2010, indicated that a group from the MILF-SOG, led by a certain alias “Mackie,” is already in Metro Manila allegedly to carry out bombings in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The document also stated that the terrorist group are hiding somewhere in Quezon City.

It said the time table for the planned bombings in Metro Manila is from the first week of October until December 2010.

“There is a great chance that the other MILF-SOG teams may have been deployed to other urban centers nationwide for the same purpose. As such, identify possible targets of bomb attacks within your respective Area of Responsibility and intensify security in and around these possible targets,” another confidential MPD memorandum order, dated Oct. 7, 2010, stated.

Five days after the October 7 Memorandum was released, a new order signed by Insp. Marlon Ursua, MPD-SIIB chief, was issued, informing all Manila policemen to remain vigilant as extremist groups trained by the JI are planning to conduct terror activities.

The October 11 memo stated that the group will carry out bombings using IEDs on selected LRT-1 Stations from Monumento to Baclaran.

In case of worst case scenario, Rongavilla said the task force could be elevated to the MPD headquarters or even to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

When asked about the assurance of safety of the public and the tourist in Manila, Rongavilla insisted that the PNP is doing its best to prevent any untoward incident.

“If we talk about Manila city we in the PNP are on constant lookout and on alert, the official said. “That is what we want to project (to assure their safety) because we are here to protect them.”

Leonardo Postrado & Aaron Recuenco, Manila Bulletin