PNP enforces 3-tiered defense system

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started enforcing a new three-tiered defense system to prevent terrorist attacks.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon said the security measure, dubbed "PNP 3-TDS," was set up as security forces prepare for the commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

PNP spokesman, Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao said the 3-TDS anti-terror measure involves heightened intelligence, target-hardening and incident management.

He said heightened intelligence refers to the deployment of more intelligence agents to monitor movements and activities of suspected terrorists; target hardening means the case build-up to gather harder evidence against suspected terrorists; while incident management will be activated in the event of a terror attack to help and assist victims and others directly affected by the incident.

"This is a pro-active response against terrorist threats. This is a proven and effective way in deterring foreign and local terrorists from launching their planned terroristic activities," Pagdilao said.

He said the police have not received any specific terror threats in connection with the fifth anniversary of the US terror attacks.

"Although there is no direct or imminent threat of terrorism on a specific target, we must remain vigilant and always on alert against an unseen enemy," Pagdilao said.

The PNP Operations Center has directed all police regional commanders and all police support units to impose the new anti-terror security measures.

Intelligence reports indicate that the Abu Sayyaf, the Raja Solaiman Movement (RSM), and the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists are planning to conduct attacks to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the US.

Unconfirmed reports also claimed that two RSM members who have undergone bomb-manufacturing training in Mindanao are now in Metro Manila.

Sources said the clandestine training, supervised by Jemaah Islamiyah bomb and demolition experts, was conducted in the mountains of Lanao del Sur sometime in April.

RSM is a small group of Islamic converts with reported links to the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah.