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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Counter-terrorism experts to gather in Cebu conference
SIXTY foreign delegates and 190 local representatives will attend the first Counter-terrorism Experts’ Conference (CTEC) in Lapu-Lapu City this week.
A coordinating conference was held at the Cebu Provincial Police Office yesterday morning to discuss security arrangements for the three-day conference, which will be held at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort beginning Thursday.
President Arroyo is expected to attend and give a keynote speech at the opening ceremonies.
Counter-terrorism practitioners, policymakers, civil society leaders and renowned scholars from around the world will be discussing topics at the conference while ambassadors and officials are invited to join.
Dilemmas
The conference aims to establish a process to institutionalize the study of terrorism to aid different countries in responding to the worldwide problem.
It will also tackle dilemmas in the US-led campaign and the root problems that foster extremism, according to chief organizer Benjamin Defensor, a former military chief of staff.
Defensor declined to name any dilemmas facing the war on terror or talk about the root causes, but noted that some countries lack “an anti-terrorist culture.”
President Arroyo, a staunch backer of the US-led campaign, announced during last year’s 21-nation Apec summit that her government would organize such a conference.
“Terrorism is a return to barbarism but countries differ in the way they want to deal with this scourge,” Defensor said. “We’re looking for an approach that’s acceptable to all—a middle ground.”
While countries have generally agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorists by sharing intelligence and staging joint counter-terrorism military exercises, Defensor said it would help if as many governments as possible could forge common steps against terrorism.
It would also help for governments to foster “an anti-terrorist culture,” which would make it second nature to people and law enforcers to remain vigilant against possible terrorist strikes during long lulls between spectacular attacks, he said.
The police are anticipating threat groups and criminal elements would take advantage and could plant car bombs or plan assassinations.
They also fear attacks on police stations and violent demonstrations that would be “detrimental to the national and bilateral interests between the Philippines and the concerned participating countries.”
Police are also preparing for militant and opposition groups to organize mass actions demanding the ouster of President Arroyo, “to embarrass the government.”
The CPPO will be getting support from the Cebu City Police Office, Regional Mobile Group, Central Command, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and other law enforcement units within the province to augment security of the hotels and the conference venue.
A total of 110 policemen will be scattered in these hotels while close-in security guards will be detailed with VIPs.
Covert
Covert policemen will be detailed in strategic areas while 10 crowd dispersal management (CDM) platoons will be on standby in case demonstrators threaten to disrupt the conference.
Two fire trucks will be on standby to help the CDM disperse crowds if needed.
A helicopter, two ambulances and two Special Weapons and Tactics teams from the CCPO and CPPO will be stationed in the area.
They have also prepared teams to conduct sea patrols in the waters surrounding Lapu-Lapu City and the two bridges connecting Lapu-Lapu to Mandaue City.
Motorcycle cops will escort VIPs to their destinations while K-9 dogs will be stationed in critical areas. (MEA/With AP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 18, 2006 issue)
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