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Sunday, December 14, 2003
Arroyo says US, UK travel advisories 'off track'
By Miko Santos
MANILA -- President Arroyo said Saturday the travel advisories issued earlier by the United Kingdom and the United States against travel to the Philippines are a bit "off track."
"We have intensified security measures in Metro Manila and elsewhere and we have moved with substantive gains against kidnappers, terrorists and drug syndicates," Arroyo said.
"The drive against drugs is expected to have a positive effect on stemming street crimes and our performance in this area is gaining ground," Arroyo added.
Arroyo assured the safety of tourists and returning overseas Filipino workers as the government enforces "high police visibility " and broadened "anti-crime and anti-terrorism dragnets."
United Kingdom and the United States advised their citizens to be vigilant as street crimes could proliferate in Manila over the holiday season, and stressed that terrorism and kidnappings remain a great danger in Mindanao.
British businessmen and officials are also advised to review their existing security procedures and seek local advice when appropriate.
The U.S. State Department, in its travel advisory, described the crime in Manila as a "serious concern" and urged Americans to maintain heightened security measures.
"A number of security-related incidents highlight the risk of travel in certain areas due to incidence of kidnapping, bombings, and other violence and criminal activity," it said, specifically naming the southern Mindanao region.
Arroyo scrapped last week a moratorium on executions in place since March 2000 after a surge in kidnappings for ransom and other violent crimes led to an outcry from the business community, and also to send a tough message to jailed kidnapping masterminds not to "ply their evil trade" behind bars.
"We have seen evidence of the kidnappers running the syndicate from inside jail, therefore they are not being rehabilitated," Arroyo said.
"They're continuing to ply their evil trade. So we need to send a signal even if it is something that is personally difficult for me to do," she said. "We need to send a statement that we do not tolerate that."
Aside from lifting the death penalty moratorium the government also established mobile checkpoints to deter criminal activities.
Recently, members of carnapping syndicate were killed in a police encounter after they ran away from a police checkpoint.
Police and military units would continue placing checkpoints until kidnap gangs and other crime groups have been substantially suppressed.
The security measure has proved to be effective, not only against organized crime groups, but also against snatchers and pickpockets, police said. They added that there had been no kidnappings or bank robberies since mobile checkpoints were set up four days ago in key parts of Metro Manila.
(December 14, 2003 issue)
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Blas Ople, 75, dies 