Emergency alert issued to US citizens in metro

MANILA, Philippines - The US embassy yesterday issued an “emergency message” advising its citizens in Metro Manila to take precautions against an unspecified threat. 

In a three-page advisory, the embassy warned of the existence of “a threat against American citizens in metropolitan Manila, specifically the Pasay City neighborhood.”

Pasay hosts a housing facility for US government personnel.

The embassy said the threat, which was detected by “reliable security forces,” remains in effect until Oct. 10.

It was issued amid mass protests in several countries including the Philippines over a 13-minute video circulated online and made in the US by an Egyptian-American, which Muslims consider anti-Islamic. The worst attack, on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killed US Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

The threat reportedly led US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. to order all US government facilities in Manila to “augment security profile.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), however, said it has not detected specific threats against Americans in the country.

For US citizens, the embassy urged extreme caution in their daily routine and to maintain extra awareness regarding their own security.

US citizens were also advised to maintain a low profile and to change their travel routes and social routines.

The embassy advised its citizens to consider canceling any gatherings and celebrations or observations that could be construed as “American events.”

Any perceived security concern by their citizens, the embassy said, should be reported to Philippine authorities.

“The embassy reminds US citizens of the dangers sometimes associated with public demonstrations. Even demonstrations that

are meant to be peaceful can suddenly become violent and unpredictable. Americans should be alert, pay attention to local news media, and avoid demonstration areas if at all possible,” the message read.

The embassy also advised US citizens to check out the “affected” locations through the website of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“As far as the AFP is concerned, we have not monitored any specific threat,” AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said in a text message.

“However, we will closely liaise and coordinate with the PNP (Philippine National Police) and other concerned law enforcement agencies and further intensify our intelligence collection and monitoring efforts,” he added.

A senior military intelligence official also downplayed the possible attacks against Americans.

The official stressed the intelligence community is continuously conducting efforts to validate the supposed threat.

The official let on that the threat involved plans to kidnap Americans.

“Maybe they overheard some group boasting over a drink that they would kidnap an American…and maybe somebody, like a tricycle driver or perhaps a taxi driver, overheard someone planning to bomb the US embassy,” the official said.

He explained that Filipinos, Muslims and Christians alike are mostly learned individuals, which is the reason why there is no case of a suicide bombing in the country. – Alexis Romero, Jaime Laude