GMA promises to secure US facilities in RP

President Arroyo assured United States President George W. Bush yesterday that American facilities in the Philippines would be secured in the wake of terrorist attacks in the US mainland.

Mrs. Arroyo said she has sent a letter to Bush promising to secure all US facilities in the Philippines, along with other key installations, and provide any help she can "to crush those responsible for this barbaric act."

"The Filipino people extend their most profound sympathies to all the victims of this unspeakable crime. We share your grief at this moment of unprecedented tragedy," she said.

The President, who appeared on television early morning yesterday sans her usual makeup, noted that "nothing can describe the shock and horror of all humanity in the face of the unimaginable acts of terror inflicted on the United States today."

"All mankind is diminished by the extreme evil we saw unleashed on your cities. The mindless violence exceeds our most extreme fears of organized terrorism," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo called an emergency security meeting with her Cabinet before midnight of Tuesday, hours after witnessing live accounts of the attacks on New York and on the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

"All humanity must now join hands to defend decency and defeat the insanity that has invaded our age. This will be, we hope, the day that mankind musters its resolve to end the threat of organized terrorism," she stressed.

The President has ordered the Philippine Embassy in the US, particularly its consulate in New York, to determine if there were Filipino casualties in the attack on the World Trade Center twin towers.

There have been reports that a number of Filipinos were working in the 110-story buildings when two hijacked commercial airplanes crashed on the two towers Tuesday.

"I have directed our embassy to immediately determine the identities of Filipinos who might have been victims of the attacks and to extend to them and their relatives all possible assistance," the President said.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the impact of the attacks on Philippine economy and security was discussed during the emergency meeting at which Mrs. Arroyo ordered economic managers to closely monitor stock markets worldwide.

"This impacts on the world," he said.

Tiglao revealed that the President has granted a request by the US to allow the emergency transit of civilians and goods from American bases in Asia-Pacific.

He explained that under its Mutual Defense Treaty with the US, the Philippines is duty-bound to support the US if it is under attack.

According to Tiglao, the President has spoken directly with US Embassy charge d’ affaires Michael Malinowski and has given the assurance that former US military facilities in Subic Bay in Zambales and in Clark Field in Pampanga would be opened to allow American transit planes. – Marichu Villanueva