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By Sam Mediavilla, Francis Earl Cueto and
Anthony Vargas, Reporters
Faced with a flurry of new advisories warning of
possible terrorist attacks on the January 11-15 12th Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, the Philippine government on
Friday put on a brave face.
“With a deep sense of pride and national
unity, let us put our best foot forward as the Philippines hosts
these historic meetings,” President Arroyo said in a speech before
defense department and military officials in Camp Aguinaldo.
Security officials on Friday insisted that 12th
Association of Southeast Asian Nation Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo,
commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said that
Islamic militants could not launch an attack in Cebu since they were
trapped in Sulu.
“The Asean Summit is secure . . . they
[militants] cannot slip out [from Sulu] since they are not accepted
in other areas,” Cedo told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.
The Assistant Secretary for the Asean Luis Cruz
also twitted four countries for warning against travel to Cebu, host
province for the summit of 16 heads of states of Asean
member-countries and their East Asian dialogue partners.
In a briefing, Cruz said the advisories came
from western countries that did not have Filipinos’ fortitude in
dealing with terrorists.
“I can guarantee the safety of the security in
Cebu,” Cruz said.
Warnings
On Friday, the United Kingdom, Australia and New
Zealand added their advisories to the one earlier released by
Canada.
“We advise against all travel to Mindanao and
Cebu provinces,” the British Embassy in Manila said in a statement
posted on its website, www.britishembassy.gov.uk.
The British Embassy warned that terrorists are
in the final stages of planning attacks against civilians,
government installations and places frequented by foreigners.
Besides bombings, UK also warned of other forms
of atrocities against foreigners.
“We continue to believe that terrorists and
criminal elements plan to kidnap foreign tourists from islands and
coastal areas in the southern Philippines,” the statement said.
Australia included Metro Manila in a similar
advisory.
It urged its citizens to exercise a high degree
of caution in the Philippines “because of the high threat of
terrorist attack.”
“We strongly advise you not to travel to Cebu
province. Recent information suggests terrorists are in the final
stages of planning attacks. Australians should avoid locations known
to be targeted by terrorists, such as places of worship,
restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, hostels, guesthouses, bars,
clubs, outdoor markets and transport and associated
infrastructure,” the statement said.
New Zealand, besides advising against “all
travel” throughout Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, including
Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi island groups, also warned of a high
security risk in Cebu.
“There is an increased risk of a terrorist
attack in the province and we currently advise against all
nonessential and tourist travel. New Zealanders should exercise a
high degree of personal security awareness,” the warning said.
Canada maintained its travel advisory on the
Philippines, warning of a terrorist threat in Cebu.
Sulu hunt
The military has deployed some 5,000 soldiers,
mostly coming from elite units, to augment the 7,000 policemen
assigned to secure the five-day long summit.
The 12th Asean Summit was originally scheduled
early last month. Organizers abruptly canceled it, citing an
approaching storm.
Security experts, however, traced the
cancellation to very serious reports of a planned terrorist attack.
Government troops have spent the entire December
trying to flush-out local and foreign Islamic militants from Sulu.
Officials believe the island is the hiding place of at least five
Jemaah Islamiah extremists accused of the deadly October 2002 Bali
bombings.
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