Terrorists to strike Metro via bomb-laden RC planes?

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s a bomb!

Beware of low-flying planes hovering above you, these seemingly safe remote controlled (RC) planes could be flying bombs targeting institutions like the US Embassy and government buildings, according to intelligence sources.

Intelligence sources warned that terrorists are utilizing the technological advances in micro-electronics and explosives.

Sources said that the popular remote controlled toy planes fancied by affluent kids and adults are on the top list of terrorists’ gadgets to sow terror.

A P30,000 RC plane could be modified to be equipped with plastic explosives enough to blow up a building. Far from the prying eyes of the police, a terrorist could operate and fly an RC plane and crash-land it on a target, sources revealed. Atop a building in Ermita, a terrorist could easily fly a bomb-laden RC plane across Roxas Boulevard and crash onto the US Embassy, sources added.

With these frightening possibilities, a clamor for a more stringent measure to curb these terroristic plans was voiced by the public. "E kung yung LRT nga hindi na-secure ng mga pulis nabomba pa, paano pa nila maa-anticipate at makakagawa ng counter-measure sa mga lumilipad na bomba? (The LRT was not secured by the police, it was even bombed, how can they anticipate to counteract these flying bombs)," said Jane Flores, of Manila.

"Dapat ideport na ang mga illegal aliens dito sa bansa (We should deport these illegal aliens who are overstaying). We Filipinos are subjected to very embarrassing situations by consuls while applying for visas, why don’t we accord their nationals the same treatment by deporting these aliens who usually are engaged in illicit activities," said John Villiam Cuevas, a resident of Cavite City.

The Anti-terrorism bill signed by former US President Bill Clinton in 1996 that strengthened the federal government to anticipate and respond to both international and domestic terrrosim-deportation and enhanced wiretapping of alien terrorists without classified evidence proved futile, to prevent the Sept. 11 bombing of the World Trade Center.

"Well if the mighty Romans, Egyptians, Babylonians, Hitler, Marcos and Erap were conquered by prayers why not these terrorists," said Celia Naguit, of Mandaluyong City.– Wilfredo Suarez