Thursday, August 21, 2008 Public transport placed on alert
THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Wednesday ordered all land, air, and seaports in the country to be on heightened alert against possible attacks by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group and its sympathizers.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said he has already directed all bus stations to increase their security and strictly implement the "no inspection, no entry" policy on bags and other belongings brought by passengers.
"We can never be too complacent that because the problem is in Mindanao, we can relax here. The usual targets of land, air and sea ports and the bus terminals and the LRT (Land Rail Transit) and MRT (Metro Rail Transit) should be secured as well," Mendoza said.
He said the LRT and MRT were on a “double-alert” status.
This, as the police visibility in the LRT and MRT were intensified both inside and outside the coaches and each station to avert a repeat of the infamous Rizal Day bombing in 2000.
The number of Metro Manila policemen, who have been on full alert since Tuesday, was also increased.
The policemen will keep watch against criminals and possible terrorists who may try to attack the said train systems.
Armed Forces Chief Alexander Yano stressed that the red (full) alert status is necessary in anticipation of possible spillover of MILF attacks.
He said it would also enable the deployment of additional police and military to the metropolis as they believe that police visibility would help deter commission of illegal activities.
He assured Muslims in Metro Manila that they would not be persecuted and their rights respected. He said they too are “citizens of the community that we vowed to serve and protect.”
The imposition of the red alert status, particularly in Metro Manila, was however opposed by religious groups.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said it is unlikely that the current hostilities in Northern Mindanao will happen in Metro Manila since the opposition is very much active here.
“I’m not worried because I know a lot of groups will react to prevent them (MILF rebels) and I also believe that they are also aware and will not do such hasty decision because they know that there will be strong opposition if they will do the same thing they did (in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato),” said Iniguez.
For Fr. Rudy Abao of the Association of the Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), the imposition of the red alert status might be used by the Arroyo government to impose “Martial law.”
Abao suspected that this is one option which the government is looking at to push for their other agenda in particular the granting of emergency power to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“These red alerts would lead to imposition of martial law and in that way they will have the power to pursue whatever ends they intend to do for the country and their own accomplishments,” he added.
Randy Tibig of another church-based group Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomista also said they are convinced that the red alert status is meant to prevent anti-Arroyo forces to conduct mass actions.
Tibig said they are set to hold a prayer rally on Friday in Malate where they intend to gather around 30,000 to 40,000 members of various religious groups.
The prayer rally, according to him, intends to inform the government of their concern on the hostilities in Mindanao and will also present to the public the real state of the nation which the government continues to cover up. (AH/MSN/Sunnex)
