Palace downplays US warning on ‘multiple’ terror attacks in RP

Malacañang downplayed yesterday serious warnings from the United States of possible "multiple" terror attacks in the country, saying it was merely reacting to the threat when it issued the new travel advisory for its citizens here.

"This is a reflex action on their part because they have a lot of (American) nationals living here," Palace communications director Silvestre Afable Jr. said.

The US government was exercising "diplomatic responsibility" when the State Department cautioned Americans that extremist groups, including a radical faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are planning to stage attacks throughout the archipelago.

"They have an obligation to protect their citizens but this doesn’t mean there is an impending attack," Afable said.

In a separate interview, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the information used as basis for the latest US travel advisory was apparently outdated.

"This is nothing new," Ermita said, adding the warning must have been issued because of the Bicutan incident early this month where three detained Abu Sayyaf leaders attempted to bolt prison, but a subsequent police raid killed them along with 19 other inmates and a lone police officer.

The US State Department warned on Thursday that terrorist groups like the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah, the local extremist group Abu Sayyaf and MILF rebels may be in the final planning stages of a terrorist attack.

Similar advisories were also issued by the United Kingdom and Australia last week.

Americans, British and Australians were also warned by their governments to be alert to the dangers of kidnapping and defer non-essential travel to Mindanao.

Britain and Canberra said the attacks "could occur at any time, anywhere in the Philippines."

Ermita said authorities are prepared to thwart any terror attack as he urged the people not to be intimidated by reported threats and to go on with their normal daily activities.

"We ask the public not to be alarmed," he said.

As for the radical MILF factions, Afable said the government is continuing peace talks with the rebel group as its boxes out its extremist elements.

He said both the Philippine and US governments have acknowledged the presence of extremist elements in the MILF, but it has not discouraged both from pursuing peace with the rebels.

"We have mechanisms designed to continue the peace process with the mainstream MILF and at the same time weaken radical elements," Afable said.

He said the government and the MILF have formed an ad hoc committee composed of representatives from both sides that monitors various issues involving terrorist and criminal activities and violations of agreements.

The committee, with help of the MILF leadership, has helped in weakening the extremist elements within the rebel group.

Afable said the MILF leadership has on many occasions in recent months helped authorities not only to neutralize kidnappers and recover victims in Mindanao, but also to apprehend suspected terrorists.

He, however, refused to elaborate for security reasons.

The MILF has also strongly denied plotting a wave of terror attacks, and said it was actually looking forward to get back to the peace table in Malaysia next month.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has maintained threats of terrorist attacks have subsided although it advised the public to remain vigilant.

"With the confiscation of 600 kilos of explosives plus the continuing arrest of key (terrorist) planners and leaders, we can say that the threats have been lessened but we do not discount the possibility that some of their remnants can still plan something," PNP spokesman Leopoldo Bataoil said Saturday.

Bataoil said security forces remained on full alert to thwart any terror attacks by the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and JI elements.

"The name of the game is proactive action against this kind of threat," he said.

"Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities in the country will be kept safe by the joint police and military security operations and some volunteer groups," Bataoil added.

On Wednesday security forces arrested Muslim convert Tyrone David Santos who police say has links to the Abu Sayyaf and JI.

Follow-up operations resulted in the seizure of 10 sacks of explosives police say were to have been used in Manila over the Easter break.

On Tuesday, the military presented Indonesian JI bomber Rohmat, who was arrested on March 16 for alleged involvement in the planning of the deadly Valentine’s Day blasts in Manila and the southern cities of General Santos and Davao which killed eight people and injured 150 others.

Rohmat subsequently disclosed the planned bombing by the Abu Sayyaf on the last week of March of soft targets in Manila, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

With the arrests, Bataoil said the threats have been lessened.

"We have drastically lessened the threat of the terrorists but we have to keep our guard up to deter attacks. We have kept the remnants on the run and the threat is almost nil," he said. — With AFP