RP, Australia mull signing of anti-terror pact

The Philippines and Australia are considering an anti-terrorism agreement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said yesterday.

The announcement was seen as a sign that ties between the two countries may be improving after Australia closed its embassy here over an alleged terrorist threat.

Ople had earlier said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had assured him that the embassy "would reopen in a few days."

Ople said he and Downer were considering a memorandum of understanding to jointly fight terrorism.

A meeting has been set for January in Sydney to discuss the accord, which Australia proposed, Ople and other officials said.

The accord calls for closer cooperation and more frequent exchanges of intelligence information, officials said.

Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce also said their diplomatic mission in the Philippines would continue operations and they have no plans of leaving the country totally.

This developed as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade amended its travel advisory on the Philippines, saying there was no civil disorder in the country.

The amendment cited the efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in securing vital installations in Metro Manila and other "high risk" areas, including airports and seaports.

The travel advisory was modified on Friday stating there is no civil disorder in the Philippines.

The same advisory, however, still discourages Australians from traveling to the country due to terrorist threats.

Ople and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said the revision of the travel advisory was the only commitment they got from Australian authorities.

Golez, on his part, said the modification of the advisory may be a welcome assurance but stressed "the damage has been done in the country" on the ill-advised closure of the Australian embassy.

Golez maintained the alert level among Australians will remain high because of the closure of their embassies here, giving the impression that the country’s security situation is out of control.

The PNP unveiled a security scheme for the diplomatic community in the Philippines during a briefing held at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) last Friday.

Officials said this was to ensure that other foreign missions would not follow the Australians and Canadians, as well as the European Union delegation offices.

Ople said there were no indications that other embassies would also close down and that Philippine authorities asked foreign governments to cooperate and coordinate closely with Philippine authorities on security concerns.

Officials throughout Southeast Asia have been sensitive to travel advisories and other warnings issued by foreign governments after last month’s deadly Bali bombings, saying they seriously hurt the region’s key tourism industry and foreign investment.

Canada said it closed it embassy because of a specific threat but refused to divulge details.

Golez said Israel also closed its embassy on Friday because of possible anti-Israeli rallies near the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The European Union delegation office, which is in the same building as the Australian embassy, also closed Thursday and Friday.

Philippine officials expressed anger after Australia and Canada indefinitely shut their embassies over "a credible and specific" threat. The officials also said they were unaware of specific threats and that the two nations are overreacting.

Golez earlier criticized Australia over the closure. "This is a dagger in the back and right now we are bleeding because of this unfriendly act on the part of Australia." Golez said. "We were a victim of an Australian kangaroo court."