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US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said on Monday that the
US still sees terrorism as a big threat in the Philippines,
especially in Mindanao, even as she praised the efforts of the
Arroyo administration against insurgents.
“We’ve seen great efforts
from the Philippine government in battling terrorism,” she told
reporters in a chance interview. “To complement this effort the
United States government has been sending terrorism experts to the
country to help the Philippine government go after suspected
terrorists. But there are indications that [terrorist] activity in
the country is still high.”
Kenney said she is planning to
visit Davao City soon “to see and assess the situation” there.
In connection with the recent bus
bombings in Mindanao, Kenney said US terrorism experts have yet to
come up with an overall assessment of the situation in Southern Mindanao.
The US Embassy in Manila warned
Americans two weeks ago that terrorists were planning to bomb bus
terminals and public markets in Mindanao.
“Our travel advisory two weeks
ago remains, especially in Southern Mindanao,” Kenney said.
The travel advisory, posted on
the US Embassy website, said attacks might take place over the next
several days in the towns of Kidapawan and Makilala in North
Cotabato.
US Embassy officials urged
American citizens to “exercise extreme caution” when visiting
Central Mindanao.
Australian officials have also
warned their citizens not to travel to Mindanao, citing the high
threat of terrorist attacks.
Australia’s Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade updated the travel advisory on the
Philippines after the US Embassy posted its warning.
Last Friday, a bomb exploded
inside a bus in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, killing 10 people. The bus
came from Cotabato City and was on its way to Davao City.
On June 8 another bus was bombed
in Matalam, North Cotabato. Ten people were injured.
In Cotabato City, a bomb exploded
in a bus terminal on May 18. At least three people were killed and
15 others wounded in the bombing, which was blamed on a criminal
gang.
The latest bombings allegedly are
part of a series of attacks on buses owned by the Weena Bus Company
in connection with a labor dispute that started in 1999. The bus
company is owned by Bernardo Baldevieso.
Police are also investigating the
involvement of Muslim militants or criminal gangs engaged in
extortion in the recent bombings.
The explosions occurred a few
days after a car bomb was found in Surallah, South Cotabato.
 --Francis
Earl A. Cueto
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