GMA convenes security council; PNP mulls anti-terr

President Arroyo is convening today an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to seek multi-partisan support for her administration’s response to global developments taking place.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also considering the creation of an elite anti-terrorist force to combat the menace.

The President called up top congressional leaders yesterday, including Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., to invite them to attend the meeting of the NSC, the country’s policy-making body on matters of national security.

The President will discuss internal security scenarios and the country’s role in a global campaign against those behind Tuesday’s attacks on New York and Washington.

"We cannot be fence-sitters during this historic period when the civilized world has decided to annihilate by all means international terrorism. If we have to pay a price for our conviction against terrorism, so be it," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said one of the objectives of the meeting, which will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Malacañang, will be to convince members of the opposition represented in the council "to support her stand."

The other day, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes announced that the government would make available to the international effort use of former US military bases in Subic and Clark.

The announcement drew fire from the opposition, who said the President could be putting the country at risk.

Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona said the NSC meeting would help explain issues to political leaders concerned.

Guingona and other key members of the Cabinet held a meeting at Malacañang yesterday to prepare for the agenda for the meeting, including the use of the former US bases.

Tiglao said the Cabinet and other presidential advisers were of the opinion that the President need not require congressional approval to allow the use of the said facilities.

The NSC is also composed of Cabinet officials led by National Security Adviser Roilo Golez. Others lawmakers expected to attend the meeting are Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., House Minority Leader Rep. Carlos Padilla and the chairmen of the committees on national security, peace and order and economic affairs.

PNP chief proposes anti-terror group

PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza proposed the creation of an elite anti-terrorist task force during a meeting in Malacañang yesterday.

Mendoza said the task force can be placed under the supervision of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes, a presidential unit he once headed.

Deputy Director General Thompson Lantion, head of the PNP-Community Relations Group, said there is urgency in forming an elite military and police unit to directly handle terrorist groups.

"By doing so, we will be effective in gathering information and monitoring movements of suspected terrorist groups," Lantion said.

He pointed out that the task force will also be tasked with collating past and current records on threats posed by known terrorist groups.

"We should collate all the information and forward these to the US," Lantion said.

At least one person remained in detention for questioning at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame for his alleged links to terrorist groups.

Sadeq Salim, an Iranian national, was apprehended by immigration authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Thursday for presenting a fake Philippine passport.

The suspect claimed he bought the passport for $3,000 in Switzerland.

Lack of budget may hamper evacuation

Lives of some 1.4 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may be at risk due to the lack of a sufficient budget to finance their evacuation or possible mass repatriation from the Middle East.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday agencies concerned are still in the process of identifying possible sources of funds in case of military operations the region.

Sources said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has an available P689-million fund at this time, but this is only enough for the repatriation of some 32,000 workers.

However, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas insisted that the government has enough funds for the evacuation of OFWs to safer ground if ever a US-led coalition attacks Afghanistan.

She pointed out that the government need only to repatriate over 10,000 workers from Israel, Iran, Iraq, which are the countries to be likely affected. – With Jaime Laude, Mayen Jaymalin