Wednesday, August 04, 2004 Pinoys abroad told to take precautions
MANILA -- Government on Tuesday advised Filipinos abroad to take extra precautions following renewed threats against the US, particularly from the al-Qaeda group of international terrorist Osama bin Laden.
President Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said government does not take the threats lightly and authorities commit that the vigilance and fight against terrorism will be unrelenting.
"We caution our countrymen especially those living in areas that are in potential danger to exercise all precautionary measures to keep themselves and their families out of danger. Here in the Philippines, we continue our fight against terror and our campaign against terror would be unrelenting," he said.
US intelligence had warned of possible terror attacks at the New York Stock Exchange, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Citigroup Inc. and Prudential Financial building, which led to the raising of alert to the highest level of orange in the United States.
The warning was based on the discovery of materials analyzing how to attack some of the most powerful symbols of Western capitalism.
Bunye said authorities have not learned of a specific terror threat against the Philippines but that it is better to be prudent in light of such developments.
"As far as we are concerned, its better for us to be prudent, to be vigilant and to exercise all measures to keep our citizens safe," he pointed out.
Bunye said the country continues to cooperate and coordinate with its allies, including the US, particularly concerning the international anti-terrorism campaign.
He added that the strategic partnership with the US and other foreign allies remains strong.
He, however, continued to sidestep questions on whether government was able to confirm reports that the US was studying the removal of the Philippines from the "coalition of the willing" following its decision to pull out troops from Iraq a month ahead of schedule in compliance with the demand of Islamic militants holding a Filipino truck driver hostage.
"You know we have said that we will be fighting terror in our front and we will continue to be cooperating with our allies. We believe that the fight against terrorism is everybody's concern," he added. JMR
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