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Saturday, October 21, 2006
Oro tourism office voices alarm over UK advisory
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The regional tourism office and Misamis Oriental provincial legislators voiced concern over the travel advisory issued by the British Government against Mindanao considering recent intelligence reports that terrorists may be in the final stages of plotting more attacks in the country.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Catalino Chan said the travel advisory is something that is no longer "surprising."
Provincial Board of Misamis Oriental Minority Floor Leader Butch Alejo Olano and committee on safety chairman Norris Babiera voiced apprehensions on the effects of this recent travel advisory.
Olano said there is even a need to cross check the British Government report and advisory.
"But for the meantime, we should pray to God that any terror attack will not actually occur for everything is in His Hands," said Olano.
Administration-aligned Babiera said the travel advisory is "very unfortunate."
"But we cannot blame them. It's the safety of its citizens. It is a setback for our development in Mindanao, sadly, but I am still against the reckless passage of the anti-terror bill," Babiera said. "We do not need that kind of law to fight terrorism! We have enough laws."
The British government warned Friday that terrorists may be in the final stages of plotting more attacks after a series of bombings in the southern Philippines, and advised its citizens against traveling to the sprawling region.
Philippine police have blamed al-Qaida-linked militants belonging to the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah and the local Abu Sayyaf groups for three bombings in the south last week, including an October 10 attack that killed six people and wounded 29 others during a town fiesta in North Cotabato province.
The US, British, and Australian embassies had cautioned against travel to Mindanao shortly before the attacks, citing credible information that terrorists could strike.
Renewing their warning, British officials said more terror attacks could be staged soon.
"We believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning further attacks," a British Embassy advisory said.
It added there was the risk of kidnappings of foreigners in resorts and terrorist attacks "to all forms of public transport: road, rail, sea and air."
Police in the capital went on alert Tuesday and President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo urged the public to help report suspicious people and activities.
"The authorities are on top of the situation but they need the active support of the community to safeguard the perimeters of peace and order," she said in a statement.
"The strong cooperation between vigilant public and our security forces will deny the terrorists any room to carry out sinister plots," said Arroyo. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/With AP)
(October 21, 2006 issue)
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