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Saturday, August 12, 2006
Alert raised over all transport terminals in RP
MANILA -- Authorities on Friday were told to intensify intelligence gathering and heighten security in all vital installations like airports, seaports, and land transport stations following the foiled terror plot in the United Kingdom.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, on instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, immediately convened the Anti-Terrorism Task Force, which he heads, to discuss possible actions on the latest terror move.
Aside from Task Force members led by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, the meeting also included intelligence officials of the police and the military, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
"The government is taking extra precautions and we would like to appeal to the public to cooperate with the authorities and to bear with the inconvenience as we continue to work hard to ensure the safety of all our citizens," Ermita said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in a press briefing at the Mactan Shangri-La Island Resort hotel in Mactan, Cebu, said immediate measures include hardening of security in possible terror targets like airport, seaports, and other public transport stations, vital installations and other public places frequented by people. This would mean more security details and stricter conduct of inspections and other similar security measures.
Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman, also asked the public to be more vigilant and cooperate with authorities, especially if they have information that may help neutralize the threat.
He also asked them to be "more patient, more understanding" especially if there would be stricter security measures like more baggage inspections as this may mean a delay in their travel -- be it by air, land or sea.
Bunye assured that the government is capable of securing foreign leaders attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) Summit to be held in Cebu in December despite the increased terrorist threat.
He said there are no changes in the scheduled summit wherein the agenda would include the region's economy and security.
Bunye said even the scheduled trip of President Arroyo to Finland for the Asean-Europe Summit in September had not been altered or postponed the moment.
Roberto Romulo, presidential adviser for international competitiveness and Philippine chairman of the Asian Business Advisory Council (Abac), said the recent development in the United Kingdom is likely to creep into the halls of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) meetings just as the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US in 2001 had done so five years ago.
Romulo said Apec is not just for economic matters and because of the recent development "that will be pursued more aggressively."
"The economy cannot thrive without security," he said adding that terrorism is among the favorite topics of US President George W. Bush, who is among those expected to attend the Apec Summit in Hanoi in November.
Bunye, meanwhile, appealed to the legislators to immediately act on the passage of the anti-terrorism bill, which aims to give more teeth to the anti-terrorism campaign.
He said terrorism is an international and regional problem and the Philippine government is determined to continue its campaign against it.
In the Senate, Senator Rodolfo Biazon said there is a need to hasten the approval of the anti-terrorism bill after the foiled terror attack in the United Kingdom.
"I think we have to really fast track the enactment of the anti-terrorism bill because the passage of that bill could increase the confidence of the other anti-terrorism agencies in other countries to relate with us (the information) in the global fight against terrorism," Biazon said in a briefing.
Biazon, chairman of the Senate defense committee, said the Anti-Terrorism Act will also strengthen the country's intelligence capabilities against terrorism activities like in the United Kingdom.
"It is an illustration of what good intelligence can do. It's illustrating what immediate response can do and because of these two indications, the people as you can see in the (news) coverage are accepting the inconvenience of the security measures undertaken by the authorities," Biazon said.
He, however, wants to ensure that safeguards are incorporated in the anti-terrorism bill so that the implementing agencies will not abuse their powers. He also wants fear of invasion of privacy to be addressed.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, meanwhile, said the ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) cohorts in Sulu province have preempted a plot to sow terror in Metro Manila.
Gonzales told reporters after the 43rd anniversary of the National Defense College of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo that before the troops commenced with the operations about a week ago, he received information the terrorists were assembling explosive devices to be used to bomb places in the country's capital.
"The activities that we have undertaken in Sulu may have preempted the possible launching of some terrorist activities even here in Manila," said Gonzales. The operations are confined in the jungles of Indanan and Patikul towns.
Military intelligence officials said Janjalani is in the company of JI operatives Dulmatin and Omar Patek who fled to Mindanao after staging the bloody bombing in Bali, Indonesia in 2002 that left 200 people dead.
"When those operations started, there is training on explosives. They were training; they are assembling explosive devices there. So, we in a way, the action in Sulu have preempted what could have been a disaster also here," said Gonzales.
Several skirmishes have taken place between government forces pursuing Janjalani's group and the terrorists. Several soldiers and terrorists have been reported killed, including Ismin Sahiron -- brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron.
The Abu Sayyaf has staged a number of attacks in the metropolis, including last year's Valentine's Day bombing in Makati City, and the 2004 bombing of a passenger ship off Manila Bay that claimed 200 lives.
Armed Forces public information office chief Bartolome Bacarro earlier said government forces have already sealed off all possible escape routes of Janjalani to prevent him and his group from evading the pursuing troops.
The military confirmed that the US military has been providing "technical assistance" in the operations. Janjalani is among the five Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by US, which has raised US$5 million for their neutralization.
The US has also raised a US$10 million reward for Dulmatin and another US$1 million for Omar Patek. The two JI personalities are said to be among the more than 30 operatives of the Indonesia-based JI operating in the country. (JMR/REC/VR/Sunnex)
(August 12, 2006 issue)
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