NOY TWITTED ON HIS PUBLIC DISPLEASURE WITH U.S. ON TERROR THREATS
MANILA, NOVEMBER 11, 2010 (TRIBUNE) By Angie M. Rosales - It just isn't done by presidents and world leaders.
An opposition senator yesterday twitted President Aquino's public admission of his displeasure at the tack taken by the United States government in denying the Philippines any intelligence information on alleged terror attack threats, claiming that as an ally of the western world, it is but right and fitting for the United States to treat the Philippines as its ally by providing the Philippine government with intelligence reports on such threats in a timely manner.
Aquino earlier had complained that when he met with US Ambassador Harry Thomas, all their discussions were focused only on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)'s review, and not once did the envoy mention concerns about the looming terror alert to the country which is now the subject of travel advisories of six other countries.
"President Noynoy (Aquino) shouldn't be making such comments. Did we hear (British) Prime Minister (Tony) Blair or (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy or (Spain's President Jose Luis Rodriguez) Zapatero or (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel complain when there was a Europe-wide terror alert?
"There was none because matters like that (are) very sensitive and very, very alarming. It can cause panic," Sen. Edgardo Angara said.
The lawmaker, a former executive
secretary during the Estrada administration, said this particular issue should not be addressed publicly by the President.
Rather, it should be directed by the head of the state to the country's top intelligence and security officials for verification.
"And if there's any clarification, they should deal with the intelligence and security administration of other countries. It's not the President himself (that has to personally deal with this).
"It should be handled by the concerned departments, the intelligence and security forces of each country, not the political leadership such as the President," he said.
Angara pointed out that any commentaries coming from the head of the state, especially if it comes out negatively, is bound to end up as "headline" in the news.
"It's all the more adding to the panic of the populace and makes other countries wonder why the president of that particular country, not the chief intelligence and chief security, is answering queries on danger alerts such as these (travel advisories," he said.
Angara dismissed assertions of some sectors that the visit to the country of former US President Bill Clinton is "inconsistent" with the foreign government's misgivings over the security issue of the country.
"That's confidence-building 'statement' because of the terror in our midst. Since there seems to be (officialdom's) panic (mode) and complaint coming from no less than our President, they (US) would send a representative. The US government is doing this, as a confidence-building statement. But Clinton's visit, I believe, has long been scheduled," he said.
Aquino earlier claimed that the visit of Clinton to the country amid the US government's travel warning on the country only proves that the country remains safe for tourists.
He was quoted as saying that he can assume that this visit of Clinton is a vote of confidence. The former (US) president has a Secret Service detail still assigned to him who would object if there was a realistic and imminent terrorist threat."
But even as Aquino made this claim, in a bid to downplay the travel warnings, the Manila Police District has been placed on full alert on the arrival of Clinton who is scheduled to deliver his speech in Manila Hotel on matters of Globalization today.
The security is based on the reported terrorist threat in Metro Manila.
Manila Police District Director Chief Roberto Rongavilla gave no further details on matters of security arrangement which was planned for the arrival of the former US president
He added that expected to meet Clinton are militant groups that will hold rallies near Manila Hotel where MPD had already been alerted and has deployed anti-riot police to secure the perio\\meter area of the said hotel.
Thousands of policemen will be deployed at the stretch of Roxas Boulevard and T.M. Kalaw and will be beefed up by check points as well as K9 (bomb sniffing dogs) service to ensure strict security measures will be implemented.
Meanwhile Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has assured that the City will protect the former US president when he steps in their jurisdiction. With Pat C. Santos
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