US, CANADA, NZ ALSO ISSUE TERROR WARNING / RP KEEPS RED ALERT STATUS
[PHOTO AT LEFT - A Philpost employee checks packages at the Manila Post Office yesterday as the government implemented stricter inspection of packages following the interception of US-bound parcel bombs over the weekend. JONJON VICENCIO]
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 4, 2010 (STAR) By Jose Katigbak and Pia Lee-Brago - The United States has joined four other nations – major allies in its global war on terror – in alerting its citizens of terror threats in the Philippines, particularly in areas frequented by foreigners in Metro Manila.
The US travel alert came a week after a near terror attack on its shores and hours after the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada issued similar advisories to their citizens planning to travel or are already in the Philippines.
In Manila, the British embassy clarified yesterday that it had not raised the level of its travel alert for the Philippines and did not specifically mention Metro Manila.
"There's been no change to the level of threat," Colin Crorkin, deputy chief of mission, told The STAR. "We have not changed the level of our travel advice."
He clarified that only one sentence was added the other day to their long-standing warning about the terrorist threat in the Philippines: "Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship, etc."
The travel alert was revised, Crorkin explained, after they received an intelligence report about a terror threat in the Philippines.
He said his government shared intelligence with the Australians, who warned the other day that the terror threat could cover Metro Manila, "but it's up to us to make our own interpretation of the reports."
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said there is no imminent threat of terror attack in the country.
In a travel advisory issued on Tuesday, the US State Department warned Americans of the risks of going to Mindanao and Sulu and said indiscriminate attacks could also occur in other areas, including Metro Manila.
"US citizens traveling, living, and working throughout the Philippines are urged to exercise heightened caution in public gathering places. US citizens should exercise caution when traveling in the vicinity of demonstrations since they can turn confrontational and possibly escalate to violence," the advisory said.
"Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao, as well as in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death," the advisory read.
The State Department said it updated its travel advisory to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities in the Philippines.
On Oct. 21 a bus bombing in Mindanao killed 10 people and an investigation was underway to determine whether this was a terrorist act or a case of plain extortion.
More terror alert
The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, for its part, cited threats to Westerners and Western interests in the Philippines and that kidnap-for-ransom activities remain despite breakthroughs in the government drive against them.
Canadian nationals are advised against traveling to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which includes Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sharif Kabunsuan, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga del Sur, Saragani, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur (excluding urban areas of Davao City), South Cotabato, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
"The threat of terrorist activities exists, particularly in Mindanao. Bombs have exploded in shopping malls, on public transportation, at airports and port facilities, in places of worship, and in other public areas. Further explosions are possible anywhere in the country," Canada's travel alert read.
New Zealand also advised its citizens wishing to travel or are already in the Philippines to "exercise caution at this time."
"There is some risk to your security elsewhere in the Philippines, including in Manila, due to the threat from terrorism and risk of kidnapping. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks, including in places frequented by foreigners such as large shopping malls and convention centers. New Zealanders are strongly advised to exercise caution at this time," the advisory said.
New Zealand said traveling to Mindanao, particularly to selected areas like Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago is extremely dangerous
"Terrorism, kidnapping and violent clashes between the military and terrorist or rebel groups make travel to these areas extremely dangerous," New Zealand's advisory said.
No threat but alert up
While the military leadership downplayed the foreign embassies' terror warnings, Malacañang declared Metro Manila on high alert as part of "precautionary measures."
"We are on top of the situation and President Aquino is being briefed from time to time. We are now on full red alert, a carryover from the All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day. This is for precautionary measures," Edwin Lacierda, the President's spokesman, said.
He clarified that the issuance of travel advisories is just a standard operating procedure for any government.
"As a precautionary measure they (foreign governments) issue travel advisories, to forestall any litigation on their part," he explained.
"We are checking intelligence reports from within and from our allies (in the Asian region). Our security agencies have taken the necessary steps. We're asking the people to be vigilant in the fight against terror," he said.
"The AFP would let us know if they would lower the status level. We call on the public to be vigilant and don't panic, and for them to exercise due diligence," he said.
"We'd rather err on the side of caution," he replied when asked if it was not premature to put Manila on high alert.
He also said mall owners "should be prudent enough to implement measures to protect mall goers, consumers."
No imminent threat
For defense and military officials, there is no imminent threat of terror attacks in the country, although security forces remain vigilant.
"Actually, we do not have terror threat here in the Philippines. Nevertheless, we are preparing. We are using our intelligence operatives. We are deploying them so they would know the source of the threats if there are any," Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
"Of course (foreigners are safe in the Philippines). We have deployed intelligence units. They are now monitoring the situation to thwart the plans of anyone who would seek to sow terror," he said.
The AFP National Capital Region Command (AFP-NCRCOM) said it would remain on red alert as a "preemptive measure."
"We continue to be on red alert. We declared a red alert because of All Saints' Day and we received another directive to go on red alert," NCRCOM chief Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero said.
"There are bomb threats (in other countries) so it's just a preemptive measure... There is no imminent threat but this would allow us to prepare," he added.
The NCRCOM has been on red alert since Oct. 22 in the run-up to the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Gazmin said the issuance of travel advisories should not be cause for alarm.
"They (foreign countries) are like that. They always issue (advisories)… addressed to their nationals. You will notice that the places covered by the advisories are the usual areas like Mindanao and crowded places," he said.
He also revealed that "special operations group" of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or extortion syndicates could be behind the Oct. 21 deadly bus bombing in Matalam, North Cotabato.
"The possible suspects are extortionists that targeted the bus company. Another angle would be the special operations group of the MILF," Gazmin said.
"We still do not know the group behind the incident but we have narrowed down the suspects to two," he added.
In Barangay Culiat in Quezon City, combined police and military intelligence agents arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf member identified as Patta Hoyoy Jalal alias Abu Najer.
Police said Jalal was involved in the hostage-taking incident at the Golden Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan in June 11, 2001 and in a kidnapping incident at the Dr. Torres Hospital in Lamitan, Basilan on June 2, 2001.
AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David, Jr. said they would make sure that the Abu Sayyaf would not be able to launch terror attacks in Metro Manila or elsewhere.
"The Abu Sayyaf is in Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and some parts of Basilan but there are operating troops who monitor them to ensure that there would be no bombings in other areas," David said.
"We are keeping them away from urban centers to prevent bombings in areas like Manila, Cebu, Naga and other build-up areas in the country."
David said they have not monitored any activity by international terror groups al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah in Metro Manila.
"We will rely on our intelligence and vigilant citizenry," the AFP chief said.
Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commander of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), also downplayed warnings of imminent terror attacks.
"There is no current credible threat from any terrorist group and the security situation in Zamboanga peninsula and nearby areas generally has marked improvement," Dolorfino said.
"They (Abu Sayyaf) and their cohorts are on the run and have not been monitored planning any possible attack," Dolorfino said.
There are reportedly 300 Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu and Basilan.
A senior anti-terror official who declined to be named claimed, however, that there is a terror threat in Metro Manila.
"Before all these travel advisories, there have been indicators that certain groups in Mindanao are reportedly plotting to launch terroristic actions in urban centers," he said.
"While we could not guarantee 100 percent that we can stop a determined attacker, we are on top of the current security situation in the country. There's no need for the public to panic," he said.
PNP's preparations
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said security has been tightened around major installations to thwart possible terror attacks.
"We have heightened security measures on vital installations, transportation hubs, terminals and economic key points," he said.
Cruz maintained that even without the terror threat, the police force would remain vigilant.
He added that PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo had given regional and provincial directors the prerogative to lower alert status depending on the situation in their respective jurisdictions.
On Friday, two explosive packages from Yemen were seized in Dubai and England, raising concerns that international terror group al-Qaeda may be planning a series of attacks.
The packages were addressed to Chicago-area synagogues and packed aboard cargo jets. There are indications that the packages contained an industrial explosive called PETN. The al-Qaeda in Yemen, which has about 300 members, is said to be a key source of recruits. With Delon Porcalla, Alexis Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mike Frialde, Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude
Philippines keeps Red Alert status amid terror threats (philstar.com) Updated November 03, 2010 11:01 PM Comments (0)
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government extended Wednesday the implementation of its highest security alert status amid concerns of terrorists attacks.
The move came following a number of countries issuing warnings against traveling in the Philippines.
While the threat is not yet imminent, Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander of the military's National Capital Region Command, said the security measure is a pre-emptive strategy to protect the country from attacks.
"We will continue with our Red Alert. We went on Red Alert because of All Saints Day and then we received another directive to go on Red Alert because of what's happening worldwide. There are bomb threats so its just a matter of pre-emptive measure," Tabaquero said.
Military intelligence agents are continuously monitoring the situation to assure that the Filipinos and foreigners are safe in the country.
AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David said the home-grown terrorist group Abu Sayyaf are contained in Western Mindanao but added that they have not monitored fresh activities of foreign terrorists, such as the Jemaah Islamiyah and even the Al Qaida.
David said the Intelligence Service of the AFP and the intelligence units of the Army, Navy and Air Force are under instruction to monitor developments "to ensure that there will be no bombings or other threats in areas."
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom and Australia have warned their citizens against traveling in the Philippines. This was followed by a similar warning issued by the United States and Canada.
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