Friday, January 12, 2007 Summit goes on; RP on high alert
THREE blasts in Mindanao prompted four foreign embassies to warn against travel to Cebu, but the summit activities Cebu will host starting today until Monday “are a go,” said Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr.
In a press briefing yesterday morning, the secretary-general of the Asean Summit Organizing Committee emphasized that the bombings “are completely isolated incidents that do not relate to out summit meetings.”
On behalf of summit organizers, he expressed “our deepest sympathies for the victims of the recent bombing incidents.”
“It is precisely these acts, and other acts of senseless violence and terrorism that the leaders will be addressing when they meet in here in Cebu,” he added.
The Philippines went on high alert yesterday as leaders from across Southeast Asia began arriving for a weekend summit.
“We would like to dispel any notion that the bombings are related to the meetings,” said Paynor. “They were isolated incidents. Our venues are safe.”
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said “terrorism is always a concern and we must always ensure security.”
But he added, “We have full confidence in our host.”
The leaders of Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei arrived yesterday, and will be joined today by President Arroyo and the heads of six other nations. The rest will follow tomorrow.
Along with strengthening joint counter-terrorism measures, officials say the summit will focus on creating an Asean Charter similar to the one used by the European Union. The charter is long overdue, but officials said it still remains in the early formative stages.
The other main points of the documents were the expansion of free and fair trade, a switch from fossil fuels to biofuels and the protection of migrant workers.
While organizers of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit continue to assure there are no specific security threats in Cebu, four countries continue to warn their citizens against traveling to the province.
Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand updated their travel advisories yesterday against traveling to Cebu.
Police and military officials continued to downplay threats of terror attacks, saying they on the ground know the situation better.
Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr. has said they cannot stop the countries from warning their citizens against traveling to Cebu even if there’s no terror threat.
“There is high risk to your security in Cebu Province. There is an increased risk of a terrorist attack in the province and we currently advise against all non-essential and tourist travel,” read New Zealand’s advisory.
It identified probable areas at risk of being targeted as markets, restaurants, bars and establishments frequented by westerners.
Summit spokesman Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, on the other hand, said that the terrorists just want the people to believe the bombings were related to the summit meetings.
“They want us to play into their hands. Their intention is to sow confusion and terror,” Lecaros said.
In its travel advisory, Britain cited the bombings in General Santos City and Kidapawan City, and said terrorists are “in the final stages” of planning attacks.
Australians were told not to travel to Cebu and Mindanao and to “exercise a high degree of caution” while in the Philippines.
“We continue to receive credible reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Some reports suggest that terrorists could target sites in Metro Manila, Mindanao including the Sulu Archipelago, and Cebu Province,” the Australian Embassy stated.
But Paynor said there had been no statement from any group suggesting a link to the summit.
“There is no indication from the perpetrators that they were trying to make a statement,” he said.
He added that areas of the Philippines have been put on the highest level of security alert not because of the attacks, but simply because of the heightened security needs as the 16 leaders begin arriving here.
The summit brings together the 10-member Asean and their dialogue partners - Australia, China, Japan, India, South Korea and New Zealand. (MBG/MEA/With an AP report)
