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Monday, September 06, 2004
Security exec seeks anti-terror bill
UNDERSECRETARY Abraham Purugganan of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security has signified his support if Congress ever intends to file an Anti-Terrorism Bill.
Purugganan, in his recent visit to Baguio, said the country has since been under threat since the September 11, World Trade Center bombing.
This, he said, was further magnified when it was revealed that some members of the bandit group Abu Sayaff, underwent training by identified terrorist groups.
An added problem, Purugganan said, is that the Philippines does not have its own list of suspected terrorists.
All that the government relies on is a list provided mostly by the United States.
Purugganan, however, stressed concerned authorities could not simply take matters sitting down as the country, had its own list of incidents which, were allegedly done by terrorists such as the Davao bombing, LRT bombing, the Abu Sayaff hostage taking and the air traffic control take over at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Purugganan said terrorists should never be underestimated, as they plan their attack meticulously.
He added that terrorist attacks paralyze a nation as they are well equipped and are aware of the interdependence of one sector to the other.
He said that due the advent of modern technology, terrorists could even pry on vital information relative to the day-to-day operations of any government.
The 'I love you' computer virus, he said, is a concrete example of the so-called 'cyber terrorism.'
Banks have also high investments on technology, especially when it comes to wireless transaction.
Purugganan said there are at least three million Filipino credit card holders.
In terms of communication, several transmission towers have been burned down in the recent years, and as a result paralyzed communication in certain areas, Purugganan disclosed.
To arrest another possibility of terror attacks, Purugganan said the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security mobilized an advisory group that would look into the before, during and after components of terrorism.
Members of the advisory group include the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Finance, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Presidential Management Staff, National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Metropolitan Water Sewerage System, Department of Tourism, Department Public Works and Highways, Department of Science and Technology, National Water Regulating Board, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Local Water Utilities Administration. (Rimaliza Opiña)
(September 6, 2004 issue)
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