PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/好色先生TV FILE PHOTO
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has declined to confirm reports about several vehicles carrying explosives from Mindanao attempting to enter seaports.
But it said it would investigate who leaked the information from a confidential memorandum issued by the PNP Maritime Group (MG)鈥檚 Zamboanga del Norte station to the operation manager of shipping lines in the province.
鈥淭he PNP Maritime Group is backtracking and investigating this alleged memorandum issued by a maritime station,鈥� PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
鈥淗ayaan po natin munang matukoy 鈥榶ung originator (Let鈥檚 find out the originator first) and how this alleged memo circulated or spread through social media. They鈥檙e doing something about this already. They鈥檙e waiting for the results,鈥� Carlos said.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, MG director, told the media that the memorandum was legitimate.
鈥淭he memorandum is legitimate but the information is unverified,鈥� Morales said.
The police official said the memorandum was created to alert ports and shipping lines in Zamboanga del Norte but it was not supposed to be disseminated to the public so as not to cause alarm.
But as to who among their personnel leaked the document, Morales said they have yet to investigate.
Over the weekend, a photo of the memorandum dated June 2, 2017 circulated on social media.
The memo listed seven vehicles, including one driven by a certain Mohammad Romato,聽under watch as these are 鈥渒nown to be carrying IED (improvised explosive devices).鈥�
The vehicles are 鈥減ossibly going to exit on Ro-Ro and port terminals,鈥� the memo said.
鈥淧lease be advised of the said vehicles. In case of information, please contact the hotlines 09173047703 and 09060632578,鈥� it added.
The document was signed by SPO4 Allan Pesta帽as from the 904th Maritime Police Station Zamboanga del Norte.
鈥淜ung totoo ito, titingnan natin if this is an information guide to a particular stakeholder to assist the originator or the unit. Hindi siya intended for circulation or sharing,鈥� Carlos said.
(If this is true, let鈥檚 see聽if this is an information guide to a particular stakeholder to assist the originator or the unit. It鈥檚 not intended for circulation or sharing.)听闯贰/谤驳补