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Monday, January 09, 2006
Terrorists already in city to disrupt meet: mayor
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday that terrorists have already entered the city to disrupt the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) to be held here from January 13 to 21.
Duterte said terror threat has become "very imminent" as the gathering of the more than 2,500 tourism stakeholders from Association of South East Asian Nations-member countries, United States and Europe gets closer.
Duterte said he ordered preemptive strikes against suspected terrorists now in the city because of the existence of "specific" and not just general threats.
Duterte, however, refused to name the group the suspected terrorists belong to.
"Basta terrorists, I cannot elaborate," Duterte said in his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday.
The mayor said the ATF is a very good venue for any political statement that the terrorists would want to send to the public.
"This (ATF) is really a rich market for terrorists. We believe there is a threat that's about to happen kaya uunahan na namin sila," Duterte said. (We'll preempt them.)
On Friday evening, the mayor ordered all police and military units to conduct preemptive strikes against suspected terrorists. Duterte said he will claim all responsibility if ever there would be legal complications brought about by his order.
"It (preemptive strike order) is fraught with so many legal loopholes, but I would like to assure the public that I'm taking responsibility on this one," he said.
"Akong direction is to look for them (terrorists), hunt them down. Kung mabulilyaso ako ang mapriso dinhi," added Duterte. (If anything goes wrong, I'll be the one jailed.)
Aside from preemptive strikes, checkpoints will also be conducted to ensure that no terrorists could pass through the cordon that the City Government is setting up in time for the holding of the ATF.
Duterte also asked people to cooperate. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(January 9, 2006 issue)
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